Hundreds of Congress workers clashed with the city police at Shaheed Smarak near the Commissionerate in Jaipur on Thursday, protesting the NEET-UG 2026 exam paper leak. The police deployed water cannons to prevent protesters from breaching barricades as several Congress workers, led by party state president Govind Singh Dotasra, attempted to march towards the BJP state headquarters on Sardar Patel Marg.
Heavy police deployment and confrontations
Amid heavy police deployment, former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas staged a sit-in outside the Police Commissionerate. Party MLAs and workers engaged in heated confrontations with police officials. Police pushed back MLA Mukesh Bhakar and former MLA Ved Prakash Solanki. MLA Manish Yadav attempted to climb over the barricades but was stopped by police personnel and brought down.
Injuries and hospital visits
Some Congress workers suffered minor injuries during the protest and were taken to SMS Hospital. After the demonstration, Dotasra and Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully visited the hospital to meet the injured party workers.
Demands and allegations
Carrying posters and placards, the protesters led by Dotasra demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. During the water cannon action, party workers lifted Dotasra on their shoulders. Some youths dressed as medical students also participated in the protest.
Addressing party workers before the march, Dotasra alleged that repeated irregularities in the NEET examination have eroded public trust in the National Testing Agency (NTA). He said, "The NTA should be dissolved." Dotasra further stated that the Centre cannot escape responsibility and demanded strict action against those involved in the paper leak. "BJP-led central and state governments cannot escape responsibility for the paper leak, as it was first exposed in Rajasthan." He also demanded that the investigation, currently being conducted by the CBI, should take place under court supervision.
Opposition leader's concerns
Raising concerns over repeated NEET paper leaks over the past three years, Jully said the issue severely affected the interests of lakhs of students across the country. He alleged that BJP seniors were focused on shielding the accused, despite the first indications of the paper leak surfacing in Rajasthan. Jully further claimed that the BJP-led state government tried to suppress the matter and failed to register even a single FIR, reflecting an attempt to protect those involved.
