Shillong, July 24: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has staged protests in educational institutes in Meghalaya in solidarity with the agitating students in Delhi demanding transparency in competitive examinations and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Demonstrations were held at NEHU Shillong, USTM and RIST in Ri-Bhoi, NEIAH Shillong, and MGU in Ri-Bhoi, as part of the union’s state-wide response to the issue.
As a mark of condolence for 20 students who killed themselves following the NEET question paper leak, the KSU units observed a one-minute silence and held candlelight vigils.
According to the union, the gesture was to express sympathy with families who lost their children and siblings.
“KSU through its Delhi unit has also joined and extended support to the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar,” a KSU statement said.
The union condemned the police action against students during a peaceful protest in New Delhi on July 20.
The KSU pointed out the use of lathi charge, tear gas, and alleged assault by persons in police uniform carrying lathis against students who offered no resistance.
“Such actions are a clear violation of the basic principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the rights guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution of India,” KSU said.
This reflected authoritarian nature of the government, it said.
The union slammed the Centre for its failure to show empathy and lack of accountability on an issue affecting lakhs of students and aspirants nationwide.
“The hard work, aspirations and future of lakhs of students cannot be allowed to be ruined due to mismanagement, corruption or lack of accountability on the part of those in authority,” it said.
The KSU wanted the Centre to immediately fulfill the students’ demands and to ensure such incidents do not recur.
“As a union founded on the principle of promoting education and fighting for proper education in the state, we will continue to uphold that principle,” the statement added.
The North East Students’ Organization has criticised police action during a student demonstration in New Delhi on July 20.
NESO termed it as a violation of democratic rights and urged the Centre to engage with protesting students instead of resorting to force.
In a statement, NESO Chairman Samuel B Jyrwa said the use of batons, tear gas and the alleged presence of plainclothes personnel with lathis against unarmed demonstrators was deeply disturbing and an attack on the constitutional right to peaceful protest.
The protest, NESO said, was centered on long-standing grievances faced by students across the country — recurring leaks of competitive exam papers and a lack of transparency and accountability in recruitment and testing systems.
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