New Delhi: Voices of students took centre stage at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Wednesday as thousands continued protesting against alleged examination paper leaks, demanding accountability, education reforms and action from the government.
Among the protesters was 13-year-old Umasa from Delhi’s Daryaganj, who arrived with her father, Salim, and her friend Rahisa. Holding the Indian tricolour, she said she joined the demonstration with one simple goal.
“I have come here for a better future.”
Speaking to NDTV, Umasa said she did not want to experience the uncertainty faced by students whose entrance examinations were affected by alleged paper leaks.
Protesters Demand Accountability
Another participant, Ashish, said the movement was focused on securing accountability from the government and called for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign.
“There’s only one goal in mind: the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, some accountability from the government, for the government to enter into a dialogue with us to understand what’s actually wrong,” she said.
She stressed that the protest was not limited to current students but represented the interests of future generations.
“We are here for every one of us, for all the students, for even those who disagree with our movement. We are here for your children,” she added.
“I’m Here for the Idea of India”
Another protester, Faraz, said his participation was driven by his belief in the country’s democratic values rather than any individual or political group.
“I’m here because I believe that sometimes movements and ideas are bigger than people. People who are in power, people who are controlling this regime… Of course, people are here for many reasons, but I believe that there is an idea of a country, that is India, that I believed in, that I grew up reading about in textbooks, in the films that we saw. And I’m here for that idea of a country, which I believe in,” he said.
Commenting on Monday’s clashes between protesters and police, he alleged that the use of force was unjustified.
“It was unprovoked and unexpected violence from the state, from the police,” he claimed.
Another young protester described the violence as one of the most disturbing incidents he had witnessed.
“It is the single worst thing that I have seen with my own eyes in the city that I call home. I don’t think that anyone deserves to be treated that way, no matter what the current ruling party or what the regime tells you to do,” he said.
Political Row Intensifies
The protest comes after violent clashes on Monday left several protesters and police personnel injured.
On Tuesday, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra staged a demonstration outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The leaders were later detained and released.
As Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi has outlined five demands, including Pradhan’s resignation, comprehensive education reforms and a discussion in Parliament on examination paper leaks.
Meanwhile, Union Minister JP Nadda accused Rahul Gandhi of being selective in his criticism, alleging that the Congress leader ignored similar paper leak incidents in states governed by the Congress and its allies.
The protests continue to draw students from across the country, with demonstrators insisting that their movement is aimed at ensuring transparency, fairness and trust in India’s examination system.