CJP’s Abhijit Deepki criticizes Pradhan’s “terrorist” statements and says his hands are “stained with the blood of 17 students.”

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan “has the blood of 17 students on his hands”, Abhijit Deepki said, in response to the Union Minister’s remarks about “Team B of subversive elements” in the Kokruche Janta Party (CJP).

Debke’s sharp attack on the minister came hours after Pradhan, in an interview, launched a scathing attack on the satirical establishment, which was protesting the leak of NEET papers.

“Dharmendra Pradhan calls us terrorists. But the irony is that he is the one who has the blood of more than 17 students on his hands,” Debaki wrote on X, accusing the minister of failing to address alleged irregularities in the country’s examination system.

Read also | Go Pradhan Go chants ring out at Jantar Mantar as protesters beat thalis and chamash | video

Pradhan had earlier strongly criticized the protesters and accused the opposition parties of exploiting the issue for political gains.

“Ye dehshatgardon ka B-team hai. Jin log in ko prajatantra ne sare se aswikar kiya. (They are Team B terrorists. Those who were rejected by the people under democracy),” the minister told NDTV, adding: “They have returned in disguise and are now targeting the regime. They raise slogans in support of those who want to divide the country. “They have been identified.”

The heated exchange comes amid an ongoing protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where CJP members, students and youth have been demonstrating for the past four days. They are demanding Pradhan’s resignation over the controversy over NEET paper leak and other examination-related issues.

The protest movement was led by Debke, who first began demonstrating in Jantar Mantar on 6 June. Since then, he and other student activists have traveled across various locations, urging students and citizens to join the campaign against the dysfunctional examination system.

Read also | ‘May exam went well, was preparing for NEET retake’: Ghaziabad student dies by suicide two days before June 21 exam

Protests were held in several cities, including Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Amritsar and Jaipur. Deepki was also joined by activist Sonam Wangchuk and actor Prakash Raj.

In the Rajasthan capital, Dipki was assaulted and slapped on camera by a group of criminals who were later garlanded after the police released them.

The controversy centers around the NEET medical entrance exam. The exam, which was conducted on May 3, was canceled after the paper leaked. The National Testing Agency (NTA) later announced the re-test, which was conducted on June 21 under tight security arrangements.

Debke says at least 17 students have died by suicide since the controversy began. Many of them were under enormous pressure in the wake of the paper leak allegations and the uncertainty surrounding the re-examination process.

At the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, protesters set up a memorial shrine for the deceased students. Candles are lit at the shrine as protesters pay tribute to those who lost their lives and renew their call for accountability over the exam crisis.

Pradhan said he felt responsible whenever students died by suicide.

“As education minister, I curse myself every time there is a student suicide. We have to fix the broken system. But the way Congress and Rahul Gandhi have used student suicide cases is low-level politics,” he said.

Read also | ‘Rakshak hi bhakshakban gaye’: Dharmendra Pradhan speaks out on NEET paper leak, takes responsibility for student suicide

The NEET re-test has been conducted for over two million students seeking admission to medical courses across the country. The decision to conduct a new exam came after the NTA received an email on May 8 claiming that the question paper had been leaked.

The complaint reportedly highlighted similarities between the “guess paper” in circulation and the actual test paper used on May 3.

Disclaimer: Discussing suicides may be distressing to some readers. However, suicides can be prevented. If you or someone you know is struggling, seek help from a mental health professional or call a support helpline. In India, support is available through Aasra (022-2754-6669), Sneha Foundation (+91-44-24640050), Sanjivini (011-24311918), Roshni Foundation (040-66202001 / 040-66202000), One Life (78930-78930), And Seva (09441778290).