Rahul Gandhi shares video alleging police excess at NEET protest; police deny
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday shared a video on social media purportedly showing police action against students participating in a protest over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). In the post, Gandhi wrote, “Students deserve justice,” and accused the police of using excessive force.
The video, which has since gone viral, shows a group of students being pushed and shoved by personnel in uniform. The exact location and date of the incident have not been independently verified. The NEET protest, organised by student groups and opposition parties, demanded a retest and investigation into alleged irregularities in the examination conducted last month.
Responding to the allegations, the Delhi Police issued a statement denying any use of disproportionate force. “Our personnel acted within the law to maintain order. Any claims of brutality are baseless,” the statement said. Police added that a small section of protesters had attempted to break barricades, prompting a measured response.
Political reactions have been sharply divided. While opposition parties have rallied behind the students, calling for a probe, ruling party spokespersons criticised Gandhi for “misleading the public with unverified footage.”
The controversy comes amid a larger debate over the transparency of NEET and other competitive exams. Several student organisations have planned further demonstrations in the coming days. Authorities have urged calm and promised a thorough review of the conduct of the exam.
Efforts to reach the students shown in the video for comment were unsuccessful. The video remains unconfirmed by any independent fact-checking organisation at the time of reporting.
