The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday strongly condemned the police action against students and youth protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over alleged examination paper leaks. The party accused the Narendra Modi-led government of using force to suppress peaceful demonstrations instead of addressing demands for accountability in the education system.
In a statement the CPI(M) Polit Bureau expressed solidarity with the thousands of students and young people who had gathered at Jantar Mantar for a march towards Parliament at the call of the Cockroach Janata Party, with support from several student organisations. The Left party described the mobilisation as a “historic march” and said it was a response to what it termed the Modi government’s “dictatorial approach” towards the month-long agitation seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) congratulates the thousands of students and young people who gathered at Jantar Mantar for a historic march to Parliament at the call of the Cockroach Janata Party and supported by student organisations,” the statement said, adding that the large turnout had given “a befitting answer to the dictatorial approach of the Modi government” over the prolonged protests.
The CPI(M) alleged that the police carried out a “brutal lathicharge and teargasing” against peaceful protesters assembled in and around Jantar Mantar and claimed that several students and youth sustained injuries during the action.
“The Polit Bureau strongly condemns the brutal lathicharge and teargasing of peaceful protesters gathered in and around Delhi’s Jantar Mantar today,” the party said.
It further alleged that police action also took place outside the CPI(M)’s headquarters at Gole Market in the national capital.
“Several students, youth and others have been injured, some seriously, owing to the ferocious attacks carried out by the police on the protesters at the behest of the Union Home Ministry. Lathicharge and teargasing also took place in front of the CPI(M) headquarters in Gole Market,” the statement added.
The party said students and young people had assembled in large numbers after the Union government allegedly refused to fix responsibility for repeated examination paper leaks and reject demands to dissolve the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET examination.
According to the CPI(M), the protests reflected widespread dissatisfaction over repeated examination irregularities and unemployment. It claimed that the month-long agitation had received broad public support across the country.
“The BJP government has refused to heed the demands raised in the month-long protests across the country that saw huge participation, support and solidarity, cutting across large sections of the populace,” the statement said.
The Polit Bureau further alleged that the ongoing hunger strike by protesters and Monday’s police action had triggered fresh demonstrations in different parts of the country.
“The paranoid government instead of being accountable on the growing mess in education and the pathetic situation of unemployment had refused to have a dialogue with the protesters,” it alleged.
Warning the Centre against what it described as repressive measures, the CPI(M) said such actions would not suppress public anger, particularly among young people.
“The CPI(M) would like to warn the Union government that such repressive measures cannot suppress the growing anger and frustration of the people especially the youth against the BJP government’s policies,” the statement said.
The Left party reiterated its key demands, calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the disbanding of the National Testing Agency and the immediate release of those detained during the protests.
“The Polit Bureau demands that the Modi government immediately concede their demands. Dharmendra Pradhan must go. The NTA should be disbanded. All those arrested should be released immediately,” it said.
The CPI(M)’s statement came amid a widening political confrontation over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, which has become a major issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Opposition parties have accused the Centre of failing to protect the integrity of competitive examinations and have demanded accountability for repeated paper leaks, while the government has maintained that investigations are underway and that stringent action will be taken against those found guilty. Monday’s protests and the subsequent political reactions have further intensified the debate over examination reforms, youth unemployment and the government’s handling of student demonstrations.