Mangaluru: Health minister UT Khader condemned the police lathicharge on students and youth protesting the NEET question paper leak issue, as well as the detention of Congress functionaries, including Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi, who were demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Addressing the media on Wednesday, Khader said lakhs of students had been affected by the alleged irregularities in the NEET, and that the protesters were exercising their democratic right. “The assault on peaceful protesters is an attack on democracy. The ruling party is not even allowing the opposition to effectively raise the issue in Parliament,” he said.Stating that public protests become inevitable when injustice goes unaddressed, Khader accused the Centre of failing to act promptly after the alleged paper leak surfaced. “Had the central govt taken immediate corrective measures, the issue would not have escalated to this extent,” he said, and questioned wouldn’t the BJP have demanded resignation of the minister concerned?He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue, saying the Centre should have ensured justice for students affected by the alleged examination irregularities.Referring to recent youth-led protests in neighbouring countries, Khader said they reflected the power of public dissent. He further questioned the Centre’s priorities, asking why compensation could not be announced for the families of students who died following the NEET controversy.
