Hundreds of Congress workers on Thursday marched towards the state BJP headquarters here to protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG medical entrance examination, where police stopped them at barricades and used water cannons near martyr Smarak.
The protesters, carrying posters and placards, led by state Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra, demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
Hundreds of Congress workers gathered at the state party headquarters around 10 am before starting the march towards the BJP office. Senior leaders, including Opposition Leader Tikaram Jolly, MLAs, former MLAs and former election candidates also participated in the protest.
Police used water cannons near Shaheed Smarak after several Congress workers climbed over barricades and tried to cross towards the BJP headquarters. While the water cannon was working, party workers hoisted Dotasra on their shoulders.
There was also jostling and jostling between police and congressional workers as security forces tried to prevent the demonstrators from moving forward.
Former minister Pratap Singh Khacharyawa sat on the dharna in front of the police commissioner near martyr Smarak during the protest.
Read also: NTA plans age ban, tries to cap NEET-UG, claims it was not a ‘paper leak’
Women Congress workers participated in large numbers and organized demonstrations by singing songs and beating duffle drums. Some young people also joined the protest dressed as medical students.
After the protest, some workers were admitted to Sawai Man Singh Hospital with minor injuries. Senior leaders including Dotasra and Jolly later visited the hospital and met them.
Addressing party workers ahead of the rally, Dotasra alleged that repeated irregularities in the NEET exam have eroded public confidence in the NTA.
“NTA should be dissolved and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign,” he said.
He alleged that BJP leaders were complicit in the alleged paper leak and said similar irregularities had come to light during the 2024 and 2025 exams as well.
“The central and state governments cannot shirk responsibility as the paper leak was first exposed in Rajasthan,” Dotasra said.
Congress workers raised anti-BJP slogans and chanted “NEET paper kahan milega, BJP ke baade mein”.
Dotasra also demanded strict action against those involved in the alleged leak and said the CBI’s investigation into the matter should be monitored by the court.
Jolie alleged that NEET papers have been leaking out continuously for the past three years, adversely affecting thousands of students.
He claimed that although Rajasthan is the first state where information about the alleged leak came to light, no FIR has been registered by the BJP-led state government.
Congress leader Abhishek Chaudhary alleged that the police were preventing youth from reaching the BJP headquarters and said that the agitation would continue.
The Congress claimed that the future of nearly 22,000 students has been affected due to the alleged leak.
The NEET (UG) 2026 examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses, which was held on May 3, was canceled after two days amid allegations of paper leakage.
The Central Bank of Iraq is conducting an investigation into the alleged violations in the exam.
