Hundreds of students, activists and members of the public gathered across the city on Tuesday to protest against the police action on demonstrators at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Monday, calling for accountability over alleged examination paper leaks and demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protests were held at People’s Plaza near Necklace Road and at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Statue at Hussainsagar. Despite heavy rain throughout the evening, protesters remained steadfast at both venues, raising slogans and holding placards as they voiced their concerns over student welfare and recent events in the national capital.
The gathering at People’s Plaza was organised by student group Disha, and focused on demands for the resignation of Pradhan. Participants said students across the country had lost faith in the examination system following repeated allegations of paper leaks and irregularities.
Many students said the issue was no longer limited to examination management, but had become a question of protecting the future and dignity of young people. Prathima, a law student, said “We came here because students deserve justice. When exams get compromised, it destroys years of our hard work. We want those responsible to be held accountable.”
Keerthana, another participant said, “The rain could not stop us. Students and protestors in Delhi have taken lathi attacks, physical attacks and even tear gas attacks. A little rain will not shake our confidence. We will not allow our voices to be silenced anymore.”
At the Ambedkar statue, protesters organised a candlelight vigil in memory of students who allegedly died by suicide following examination-related controversies. As rain intensified and candles were repeatedly extinguished, participants switched on the torchlights on their mobile phones and held them out in a symbolic display of solidarity.
The illuminated phones created a striking scene as protesters stood drenched in the rain, remembering affected students and expressing support for those injured during the police action in New Delhi on Monday.
“After the discussion at the Somajiguda Press Club, we came straight to Babasaheb’s statue to raise our voices. It is high time that the government consider our plights too” said Harsha Vardhan, who participated in the vigil near Hussainsagar.
Police personnel were deployed at both locations to maintain order and manage traffic. Satyanarayana, a police officer present at the protest said “The protests went peaceful. Participants cooperated with the police, and we controlled the traffic properly. Traffic was increasing at 07:30 PM, so we had to ask the organisers to stop the protests, and they happily cooperated with us.”
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