Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray to discuss the repeated NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) examination leaks, the growing anger among students and the current situation in the country.
Backing the nationwide student movement, he said the issues raised by the youth are issues of the nation. He asserted that the more the Modi Government tries to suppress students' voices, the stronger their demand for answers will become.
Condemning the crackdown on protesters at Jantar Mantar, the AAP Chief said unarmed students seeking justice were met with lathi charges and tear gas, and questioned why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan cannot resign when ministers have repeatedly been changed or stepped down in the past.
AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said, “Discussions were held on all the issues currently unfolding, especially the youth movement taking place across the country and the protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Young people across India are deeply distressed, angry and filled with resentment, and these concerns were discussed at length.”
The former Delhi CM stated that he visited Jantar Mantar on Tuesday during the day, while Uddhav Thackeray visited later that night and met both the protesters and their leadership. He emphasised to the government that these young people are the children of the country and its future.
"These are young people between the ages of 18 and 30 who have left their homes to come here and protest. I saw on social media that a young man from Madhya Pradesh had come carrying a tiffin box in his bag containing a few peanuts, a piece of onion and some pickle.
He travelled all the way from Madhya Pradesh with just that. He was an MSc student. Just look at the spirit with which people are reaching Delhi from every corner of the country. On Tuesday night, Connaught Place, Janpath and Jantar Mantar were completely packed with people arriving from different states,” he shared.
Highlighting the concerns of the protesters, the AAP Chief asserted that paper leaks are continuing, evaluation systems are failing, and massive rackets are operating within the country's education and examination systems. It was the government's responsibility to fix these problems, but it had failed to do its job.
He continued, "When people complained to the government, they were given no solution. When no solution was provided, they came out on the streets, and when they protested, they were lathi charged and brutally beaten. This is not right.
The government must listen to them. Why can't the Education Minister resign? Ministers are changed all the time. The Education Minister should resign and the examination system should be fixed. We fully support this movement."
Arvind Kejriwal added that the more the government tries to suppress these young people, the bigger the movement will become. He pointed out that the government had earlier picked up Sonam Wangchuk and admitted him to a hospital, believing the movement would end, but instead it only grew stronger.
He added, "On the day of Jantar Mantar to Parliament march, the government unleashed brutal lathi charges, cracked people's heads and broke their legs. Many suffered serious injuries. The government thought people would be frightened, but even larger numbers turned up.
People are not afraid. Even if the government shuts down all the Metro stations, people will walk to the protest. Even if they try to stop people from walking, they will still find some other way to reach. These are young people. Do not try to stop them. Accept their demands. That will ultimately be in the government's own interest."
Responding to a question, the AAP Chief said that the party stands with Shiv Sena. "Uddhav Thackeray went to Jantar Mantar on Tuesday and so did we. There is no need for us to do anything separately because we are already with them.
The youth of this country are protesting and we stand with them. We support the issue. The issue is that paper leaks must stop. Everyone should extend their support. Those who want to support the protest at Jantar Mantar should do so. Those who want to organise separately may do that."
He stated that the 2024 NEET examination was leaked and revealed that the Modi Government failed to file the chargesheet against its mastermind within the prescribed time. "A chargesheet had to be filed within three months, but it was not, and as a result the accused got default bail.
Yet they claim they are doing their job. Those who are responsible for leaking examination papers are being allowed to secure automatic default bail, and the government still says it is working. The Modi Government should be ashamed."
Responding to a question about allegations of violence by the protesters, Arvind Kejriwal asked, "Can the media show me even one protester carrying a gun? Can the media show me a single protester carrying a stick, a stone or any weapon? Beating unarmed children from regular families with lathis, firing tear gas at them and smashing their heads, what kind of responsible government does that? They are terrorists.”