Ahmedabad witnessed multiple protests on Wednesday over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in national-level examinations, with Congress workers taking to the streets in the afternoon and students gathering outside Gujarat University later in the evening.
The protests saw police action at both locations, with more than 200 people detained in total, according to the police. The demonstrations were linked to demands for reforms in the examination system and action over alleged paper leaks.
Congress Workers Detained After Clash With Police
The first protest was organised by Congress workers around 2 pm. The demonstration began with a sit-in at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Paldi, where party workers raised concerns over alleged paper leaks and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest later moved towards a nearby crossroads. Police stopped the protesters, leading to a confrontation between the two sides. Several Congress workers were subsequently detained.
Among those detained was Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda.
Chavda accused the Centre of failing students and called for the Union education minister to step down. He also demanded an apology from the country’s top leadership over the alleged NEET paper leak and action against police personnel who, he alleged, assaulted protesters.
BJP Workers Stage Counter-Protest
The Congress demonstration was followed by a political counter-protest.
BJP workers gathered outside Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan under the leadership of Gujarat BJP president Jagdish Vishwakarma. They raised slogans against the Congress and Rahul Gandhi.
BJP spokesperson Anil Patel accused Rahul Gandhi of attempting to create an atmosphere of anarchy through the protests.
The exchange between the two political parties added to the tension around the demonstrations, with both sides putting forward their positions on the issue of examination irregularities.
Students Protest Outside Gujarat University
Later in the evening, hundreds of students gathered outside Gujarat University to protest against alleged irregularities in national examinations.
Carrying placards and raising slogans, the students demanded reforms in the examination system. They called for measures to ensure that students face a fair and transparent examination process.
As the protest grew, police moved in and began detaining demonstrators.
Gujarati film and theatre actor Jigna Vyas, who had joined the students’ protest, was also among those detained.
The detained students were taken to the Gujarat University police station. Even after being taken to the police station, the students continued their demonstration, carrying their placards, singing songs and raising slogans inside the premises.
Over 200 Protesters Detained in Ahmedabad
JCP (Sector-1) Neeraj Badgujar said police detained protesters from both locations.
According to him, around 80 protesters were detained at the Congress office in Paldi, while approximately 125 people were detained from the Gujarat University protest site.
The police said the situation was brought under control after the protesters were detained.
The day’s developments highlighted growing anger among political workers and students over alleged problems in the country’s examination system, with protests taking place at different locations across Ahmedabad.
Seven Booked in Surat Over Effigy Burning
The protests over examination-related issues also led to police action in Surat.
The Udhna police booked seven people for allegedly burning effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during a protest.
The accused have been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to unlawful assembly and allegedly endangering human life. They were also booked under provisions of the Gujarat Police Act for allegedly violating a police commissioner’s notification by holding the protest without permission.
The developments in Ahmedabad and Surat came amid demonstrations over alleged irregularities in national examinations, with students and political groups demanding accountability and changes to the examination system.
Also Read: Student Rights Under Threat: From CJP Protest To Questions Over India’s Democracy https://www.vibesofindia.com/student-rights-cjp-protest-india-democracy/
