उद्धव ठाकरे ने कहा कि जिस तरह छात्रों पर हमला किया गया, उन पर आंसू गैस छोड़ी गई, मैं सरकार को चेतावनी देना चाहता हूं। आपके पास लाठियां हो सकती हैं, लेकिन हमारे पास तिरंगे हैं। अब देखेंगे कि जीत किसकी होती है, तिरंगे वालों की या लाठी वालों की।
Despite heavy rain in Pune, Maharashtra, on Friday, thousands of people—including students—held a massive march demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak scandal. Meanwhile, in Mumbai’s Dadar area, thousands staged a protest led by the Shiv Sena (UBT), also demanding Pradhan’s resignation.
पुणे में बारिश के बीच छात्रों और नागरिकों का विशाल मार्च, मुंबई में भी प्रदर्शन, प्रधान के इस्तीफे की मांग
The youth of Pune have united like never before, calling for Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. pic.twitter.com/RYcCwr3xWj
On Friday, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) organized a four-kilometre-long march in Pune, starting from the historic 18th-century Shaniwar Wada fort and ending at the District Collector’s office in the city centre. Students, working professionals, lawyers, and members of various social organizations participated in the march. Protesters condemned the police lathi-charge against students in Delhi and demanded Pradhan’s resignation.
Demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s Resignation
Demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, a protester stated that the government must be held accountable for the recurring paper leaks. “After so many paper leaks, accountability must be fixed at some level within the government,” he said.
Ashwini K., a participant in the march, alleged that the government’s failure to prevent paper leaks has driven students to despair. “This government is responsible for student suicides. Dharmendra Pradhan should resign, and that is the primary demand of the students present here as well,” she said.
Another participant questioned the government’s response to the paper leak incidents. “The main issue is accountability. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured that paper leak cases would be resolved quickly through fast-track courts. We have had fast-track courts for years; what happened to those cases?” he asked.
‘Tiranga Morcha’ at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park
In Mumbai’s Dadar area, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party organized a ‘Tiranga Morcha’ (Tricolour March) at Shivaji Park. Meanwhile, party leader Aaditya Thackeray stated that he had spoken to Abhijit Deepke, the founder of the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP), and told him not to return to Maharashtra until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Addressing the gathering, Uddhav Thackeray remarked that while the government holds batons, the protesters hold the Tricolour.
Uddhav Thackeray said that those in power should take note of the massive turnout at the protest. He stated, “This is the voice of the people (Jan ki Baat), and Delhi must listen to it. I want to warn the government regarding the way students were attacked and subjected to tear gas. You may have batons, but we have the Tricolour. Now we shall see who triumphs—those with the Tricolour or those with the batons.”
Whenever the Prime Minister is afraid, he resorts to Hindu-Muslim rhetoric
Aaditya Thackeray noted that although social activist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk has ended his indefinite fast, the movement will continue. He asserted, “Dharmendra Pradhan must resign.” Aaditya Thackeray reiterated that he had instructed Abhijit Deepke not to return to Maharashtra until Pradhan steps down.
He urged the youth to protest fearlessly at Shivaji Park, despite the detention of several protesters a few days earlier. Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA remarked that whenever the Prime Minister feels threatened, he begins talking about Hindu-Muslim issues and religion.
Slogans raised for ‘freedom from paper leaks’
This protest was organized amidst an ongoing movement led by the CJP in Delhi, Mumbai, and other parts of the country against alleged irregularities in examinations. Violence had erupted during the protest in Delhi; security personnel resorted to lathi-charges and tear gas shelling, and detained several individuals.
At Shivaji Park, protesters raised slogans demanding “freedom from dictatorship and paper leaks,” while ‘Vande Mataram’ played in the background. Some protesters arrived carrying posters of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and the architect of the Constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. Amit Thackeray, a leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and son of Raj Thackeray, stated that the government has been forced onto the defensive due to the protests by ‘Gen Z’. Actor Arya Babbar also participated in the protest.
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