SHIMLA: Protests over the NEET examination paper leak row intensified in the state capital on Saturday evening as Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led a joint candlelight march organized by the Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
The protest march commenced from the Indira Gandhi State Sports Complex and passed through Scandal Point before terminating at the Mahatma Gandhi statue on The Ridge. Participants held candles and raised slogans demanding justice for affected students. During the event, Chief Minister Sukhu also administered the oath of the Preamble of the Constitution to the gatherers.
Speaking to Media, Sukhu stated that the march was organized in collaboration with various political parties to support the students protesting for their rights at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He affirmed that the people of Himachal Pradesh stand firmly with the youth fighting for justice, adding that complete transparency in competitive exams is essential to ensure hard-working candidates get their due rewards.
The Chief Minister demanded a compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of students who tragically died by suicide due to the NEET controversy.
Taking aim at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Sukhu alleged that paper leaks are predominantly surfacing in BJP-ruled states. He recalled that during the previous BJP regime in Himachal Pradesh, the police recruitment exam paper was leaked, alongside multiple irregularities in recruitment tests conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Subordinate Services Selection Commission (HPSSSC).
Highlighting his government’s track record, the Chief Minister stated that after assuming office, the Congress administration dissolved the HPSSSC and established the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog to restore credibility. He added that key perpetrators involved in past paper leaks were arrested and sent to jail.
Sukhu praised Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, for raising the issue of the students’ future on a national stage. He emphasized that maintaining fairness and transparency in competitive examinations is crucial to preserving the faith of the youth in the system.
Expressing his gratitude, the Chief Minister thanked CPI(M) leaders and the general public for their active participation in making the candlelight march successful.
Prominent figures present at the demonstration included Education Minister Rohit Thakur, MLAs Kuldeep Rathore and Sanjay Rattan, State Congress President Vinay Kumar, General Secretary Vinod Zinta, former MLA Rakesh Singha, and Shimla Municipal Corporation Mayor Surender Chauhan, along with several local councillors and party workers.
