Student organizations criticize Pawan Kalyan’s remarks against NEET paper leak protests

Representatives of various student unions are staging a protest in Vijayawada on Friday. | Photo credit: GN RAO

Students and youth organizations in Andhra Pradesh on Friday condemned Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan’s remarks against the ongoing student agitation over the NEET-2026 paper leak. They demanded that Mr. Pawan Kalyan withdraw his remarks and apologize to the students.

In a joint statement, the organizations claimed that while people across the country supported the “legitimate struggle of students”, the Deputy Chief Minister chose to criticize them instead of speaking out against those responsible for the paper leak. They also condemned the police action against protesting students at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and accused the government of trying to suppress the movement as it gained support from intellectuals and other sections of society.

Student groups claimed that the state-wide group of educational institutions, convened as part of the nationwide protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, received voluntary support from students and educational institutions across Andhra Pradesh. They criticized the detention of student leaders at several places, particularly claiming that the police in Rajamahendravaram used excessive force in arresting the protesters.

The bandh was started from PB Siddhartha College of Arts and Science at Moghalrajpuram in Vijayawada.

Students Federation of India (SFI) state secretary K. Prasanna Kumar thanked the students for the success of the bandh and claimed that the Center had put the future of millions of students at risk while suppressing those who questioned it. He said the agitation would continue in phases until the Union Education Minister resigned.

All India Students’ Federation (AISF) state president G. Valaraju condemned the use of tear gas and police action against students during the ‘Parliament Chalo’ protest in Delhi, claiming that one student was seriously injured. Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) State Secretary G. Ramanna called on both the ruling coalition and opposition parties in the state to respond to the agitation.

Union of Progressive Democratic Students State Secretary I. Rajesh said that 152 examination papers were leaked across the country in the last 14 years, calling it a multi-million dollar scam.

After the meeting, members of the student and youth organization marched towards Lok Bhavan via Bandar Road, but the police stopped the protesters, leading to another confrontation.

Published – 24 Jul 2026 18:50 IST