Bengaluru, 23 July

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and urged the Union government to rollback the NEET exam system and instead reinstate the State-level CETs.

Parameshwara’s key demands included, order an impartial and time-bound inquiry, compensate the families of students who lost their lives and those injured during protests, fix accountability for the lathi-charge and use of tear gas, initiate meaningful dialogue with students and educators, and restore credibility and public trust in our examination system, according to a statement.

His letter comes as protests continue torock the State. In Mandya, the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) and other progressive organisations burned an effigy of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demanding his resignation. Groups also continued their protests at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park

In his letter, Parameshwara said that the paper leak and alleged irregularities in the NEET examinations were a “breach of trust between the (government) and its youth” and that the “nationwide protests reflect the depth of this anguish”.

He called that government’s crackdown on peaceful protesters, including the lathi charges, and use of tear gas as “shocking”. Noting that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha was also detained during a protest, Parameshwara said that the Modi government had sent a “deeply troubling message, not merely to India's citizens but to democracies across the world”.

“Such actions tarnish India's global image as the world's largest democracy and raise serious questions about our collective commitment to the constitutional right to peaceful dissent,” he stated.

Parameshwara said that the credibility of India’s higher education system depends on integrity and transparency, and said that India was now at a “defining moment”, urging the government to respect democracy and engage with protesters and hunger strikers. This, he argued, was the mark of statesmanship and “essential component of democratic discourse”.

Calling for dialogue over confrontation, Parameshwara wrote, "Dialogue is the language of democracy. Monologue is the language of autocracy".

Meanwhile, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar backed the nationwide protests over the alleged NEET leak and questioned the use of force against protesting students in New Delhi and elsewhere. He called for a discussion in Parliament.

“Our children are our future. Question papers have reportedly been leaked on more than 100 occasions. If we fail to maintain quality, if question paper leaks continue to happen like this, and if nobody takes responsibility for them, then who should be held accountable?” Shivakumar told press.  

Calling the controversy a national issue rather than a political one, Shivakumar said, “This concerns the future of the country’s youth. This is the voice of the youth. Their future is at stake. Why are you trying to cover it up?”

Cong, BJP activists spar over NEET leak in Mysuru

Tension prevailed at Maharani's College in Mysuru on Wednesday as Congress and BJP workers staged rival protests over the alleged NEET paper leak during a student awareness programme.

Congress leaders, led by Chamaraja MLA K Harishgowda, held a condolence meeting near Viveka Smarak to pay tribute to students who allegedly died by suicide amid the controversy and accused the BJP-led Centre of mishandling the issue.

BJP leaders, including former MLA L Nagendra and MLC Kautilya Raghu, organised a counter-protest, accusing Congress of politicising the issue and misleading students. Heated arguments broke out between activists of both parties before police intervened and dispersed them.

Addressing reporters later, Raghu said the Centre had taken stringent measures, including constituting special courts and suspending officials, and urged Congress not to exploit the issue politically. Nagendra said the BJP had lodged a complaint with the Deputy Director of Public Instruction, alleging misuse of a government college for political activities. He warned of further counter-protests if similar programmes were held.