Thousands of Students March in Heavy Rain in Pune, Demand Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation
Pune, 24th July 2026: Thousands of students braved heavy rain to participate in a protest march organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) in Pune on Friday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy.
The rally began at Lal Mahal and concluded at the Pune Collector’s Office, with a large number of students carrying placards and raising slogans against the Central Government. Protesters called for accountability in the examination system and demanded the immediate resignation of the Education Minister.
The demonstration in Pune comes amid nationwide protests following the police action against CJP protesters in Delhi, where demonstrators were allegedly lathi-charged during their agitation over the NEET paper leak issue. Student groups across the country have since intensified their protests, alleging that the government’s response has failed to address their concerns.
Speaking during the march, several students said they had taken to the streets because the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation remained unfulfilled despite widespread protests across the country.
“Students across India have been protesting since the NEET paper leak controversy came to light. We are here because the Education Minister has still not resigned. Our only demand is that he should step down and take responsibility,” one of the protesters said.
The students also expressed scepticism over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement regarding fast-track courts and stricter legal provisions to deal with paper leak cases.
“We do not have faith in these assurances. Our primary demand remains unchanged — the resignation of the Union Education Minister. Accountability must come before any new promises,” another participant said.
Despite the continuous rainfall, the turnout remained significant, with students continuing the march peacefully until they reached the Collector’s Office. Police personnel were deployed along the route to regulate traffic and maintain law and order, while the protest concluded without any major untoward incident.
