Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad... Neet paper leak protest spreads nationwide even as govt reaches out to CJP, Opposition

The political battle over the alleged NEET paper leak widened across the country on Wednesday, with protests erupting in Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna, Surat and Lucknow even as the Centre sought to defuse the confrontation by opening a dialogue with Opposition leaders and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

The nationwide demonstrations came a day after Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, were detained during a sit-in outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, where they demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the handling of the paper leak issue and the police action against protesting students.

The Centre has indicated its willingness to discuss the issue after Union Minister Jitendra Singh met Opposition representatives, but protests continued across several states, reflecting that the political agitation has now moved well beyond the national capital.

Protests Spread Across States, Security Tightened

Delhi remained on edge with authorities tightening security and shutting 16 Delhi Metro stations as CJP supporters planned demonstrations. Police maintained heavy deployment across sensitive areas to prevent protesters from marching toward high-security zones.

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In Maharashtra, activist Manoj Jarange Patil met CJP founder and expressed solidarity with the movement, adding another prominent voice to the growing agitation.

Opposition workers also staged demonstrations in Patna, while protests were reported in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Surat, where party workers raised slogans against the Centre over the alleged examination irregularities and the police crackdown in Delhi.

Lucknow witnessed parallel protests by both the BJP and the Congress, underscoring how the controversy has evolved into a broader political flashpoint.

Congress workers led by Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai attempted to march towards Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's residence, accusing the BJP government of humiliating Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi during Tuesday's protest in Delhi. Police barricaded the route, following which Congress workers staged a dharna before several leaders, including Rai, were detained.

The BJP, meanwhile, organised a counter-protest targeting the Congress. State BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary accused the Congress of indulging in "anti-national activities" and marched towards the party office before police stopped the procession.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also criticised the Opposition's protest outside the Prime Minister's residence, alleging that it compromised the security of the Prime Minister despite the government's offer to discuss the issue in Parliament.

Delhi High Court Seeks Preservation of CCTV Footage

Amid the escalating political confrontation, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi Police on three public interest litigations alleging excessive use of force during the July 20 CJP protest.

A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya directed authorities to preserve CCTV footage, body-camera recordings and other electronic evidence linked to the incident while granting four weeks to the Centre and Delhi Police to file their responses.

The Bench observed that even if the gathering had been unlawful, the police were required to follow the legally prescribed procedure before using force.

The petitions have sought an independent investigation into the alleged police excesses, with senior advocates appearing for the petitioners arguing that protesters were peacefully exercising their constitutional rights and that mandatory protocols, including public announcements before dispersal, were not followed.

The Centre opposed the petitions, arguing that they relied heavily on selective social media videos and ignored footage showing violence against police personnel, damage to official vehicles and stone-pelting by sections of the crowd.

The High Court clarified that it was not expressing any view on the merits of the allegations but said all relevant evidence must be preserved while the matter remains under judicial consideration. The case will next be heard on September 11.

The twin developments—street protests spreading across major cities and judicial scrutiny of the police response—have ensured that the alleged NEET paper leak remains one of the most politically charged issues ahead of the upcoming parliamentary session.