Anna Hazare Urges PM Modi to Address NEET Protesters' Demands, Says Minister's Resignation Won't Weaken Govt

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of satyagraha and non-violence, anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to address the demands of students protesting over the alleged NEET paper leak through dialogue rather than suppression. Hazare also stated that seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would not weaken the government but would reinforce accountability.

In his letter, Hazare expressed deep pain over the violence and police action against the ongoing agitation in New Delhi. He emphasised that such incidents are detrimental to a democratic system and called for avoiding violence, damage to public property, and unnecessary use of force under any circumstances.

Hazare highlighted the growing anger among young people over examination paper leaks, delays in recruitment, unemployment, and other issues. He urged the Prime Minister to view this resentment not merely as a law-and-order problem but as an expression of society's agony and expectations.

Referring to the NEET examination, Hazare noted that allegations of paper leaks and irregularities had surfaced in both 2024 and this year. He pointed out that around 22 lakh students appeared for the examination this year, with incidents of question paper leaks emerging. Reports of 22 students dying by suicide due to despair and widespread irregularities in re-conducted exams have also been published. Hazare criticised the tendency to shift blame to lower-level officials when irregularities are exposed, while the government takes credit for successes. He stressed that ultimate accountability lies with senior officials.

Hazare observed that students and parents have been peacefully protesting for 25 days, demanding the education minister's resignation. He argued that fixing accountability by seeking a minister's resignation would not cause the government to fall. Instead, it would send a clear message to other ministers that failure to perform duties properly would lead to loss of post, making the government more accountable and effective.

He also condemned the forceful hospitalisation of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the protesting students. Hazare noted that Wangchuk was forcibly removed from his fasting site without any meaningful dialogue initiated by the government beforehand. Despite his fast continuing in Delhi for several days, no government representative or secretary-level official visited the protesters to engage in dialogue.

Concluding his letter, Hazare reiterated that differences of opinion are natural in a democracy and should be resolved through dialogue, sensitivity, and mutual respect, not confrontation. He reminded the Prime Minister that India is the inheritor of Mahatma Gandhi's ideals and the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution.