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The political confrontation follows widespread student demonstrations in New Delhi under the aegis of the Cockroach Janta Party
Uttar Pradesh Youth Congress workers take out a torchlight march demanding a probe into the alleged NEET paper leak and the dismissal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Lucknow. Image/PTI
The BJP-Congress slugfest over examination paper leaks spilled into Uttar Pradesh’s capital on Wednesday, as both parties staged rival foot marches targeting each other’s seats of power.
While police thwarted a Congress attempt to march to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s residence to hold a dharna, a large contingent of BJP workers—led by state president Pankaj Chaudhary—managed to reach the immediate vicinity of the opposition party’s state headquarters.
The political confrontation follows widespread student demonstrations in New Delhi under the aegis of the Cockroach Janta Partywhich sparked localised protests across several districts in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. Tensions flared Tuesday night when Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) workers staged a sudden demonstration near the Vidhan Sabha to protest the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Akhilesh Yadav. Though police quickly dispersed the midnight crowd, opposition leaders pledged large-scale action for Wednesday.
Congress Demands Education Minister’s Resignation
Leading a march from the Congress state office towards the Chief Minister’s residence, about a kilometre away, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai clashed with security forces as heavy barricading brought the procession to a halt.
“We will not back down,” Rai said. “Both the state and central governments have duped students, and examination paper leaks have become rampant across Uttar Pradesh and New Delhi. The students have ignited a movement, and we stand with them.”
Rai condemned the police action against national leaders in New Delhi, arguing that the detentions exposed administrative panic. “The BJP must take full responsibility for playing with the futures of millions of students. The first step is for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. Only then can any meaningful discussion take place,” he said.
BJP Accuses Opposition of Misleading Students
In response to opposition demonstrations outside the Prime Minister’s residence in the national capital, the BJP organised a counter-march. Hundreds of party workers accompanied UP BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary, marching towards the Congress headquarters before being halted by police barricades a few hundred metres from the gates.
For nearly an hour, a tense standoff ensued as rival supporters came eyeball-to-eyeball, shouting slogans across the police line.
Hitting back at the opposition, Pankaj Chaudhary accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of exploiting student grievances for political gain.
“The Congress and the SP are misguiding students to serve their own political interests—they do not care about student welfare,” Chaudhary said. “Staging a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence sets a dangerous precedent. The Prime Minister has already assured the nation that anyone guilty of paper leaks will face exemplary punishment. Thirteen accused have already been arrested, and strict action will continue.”
Opposition parties, including Congress and the Maha Vikas Aghadi, are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Maharashtra’s Education Minister over alleged paper leaks in national-level examinations like NEET, JEE, CUET, UGC-NET, SSC, a
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