NSUI Members Lock NTA HQ in Protest Over NEET-UG Exam Issues

The Congress's student and youth wings demonstrated in Delhi on Thursday, protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams. NSUI members forcefully entered the NTA headquarters, locking its office, while the IYC protested at Jantar Mantar.

At the NTA headquarters in Okhla, NSUI members led by national president Varun Choudhary stormed the agency's office. They staged a sit-in for nearly an hour before senior police officers arrived. Visuals showed NSUI members chanting slogans inside the building and locking the office with an iron chain and lock.

Protests at Jantar Mantar

Earlier in the day, the IYC held a massive demonstration at Jantar Mantar over the NEET-UG exam and against the Agnipath scheme. The Congress's youth wing accused police of using batons against protesters. A large crowd of IYC workers, led by national president Srinivas BV, gathered with placards against the NTA.

When Youth Congress workers attempted to move forward to gherao Parliament, police set up barricades and resorted to lathicharge, detaining several IYC workers. A senior police officer denied allegations of lathicharge, stating that mild force was used when protesters pelted stones and bottles at police personnel and tried to break barricades.

NSUI's Threat to Lock NTA Offices Nationwide

The National Students Union of India (NSUI) has threatened to lock NTA offices across India if their demand to ban the National Testing Agency (NTA) is not met. At Jantar Mantar, police used lathicharge to disperse protesters from IYC, AISA, and Delhi University's Krantikari Yuva Sangathan, who continued their indefinite sit-in for a second day.

A police officer explained that mild force was used only after students pelted stones and bottles at policemen near barricades. Some protesters attempted to break barricades by pushing a parked water tanker towards them. Around 60 protestors were detained from the site.

Allegations of Exam Irregularities

The NEET-UG exam was conducted by the NTA on May 5 with around 24 lakh candidates participating. Results were announced on June 4 but were followed by allegations of question paper leaks in states like Bihar. The Union education ministry also cancelled the UGC-NET and NEET postgraduate exams after receiving inputs that their integrity might have been compromised.

Members of AISA and other student outfits also demonstrated in large numbers carrying dhaplis, posters, and banners. They demanded that the NTA be scrapped and called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

A case was registered under sections 186 (obstructing public servant), 353 (assaulting public servant), 452 (trespassing), 342/34 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code against NSUI member Varun Chaudhary and others in connection with the protest at the NTA office.

There was no immediate response from the NTA regarding these incidents. "No more Corrupt NTA. #NTA BAN," read a message pasted on the iron lock and chain used by protesters at the NTA office.

According to police, IYC had been given a time slot from 10 am to 1 pm for their protest. When they continued beyond this time and climbed barricades, mild force was used to disperse them.

The protests reflect growing dissatisfaction among students regarding exam conduct and transparency. The demand for accountability from educational authorities remains strong amidst these allegations.