Students’ demands raised in Hyderabad during protest against NEET paper leak, Jauhar University demolition

Dozens of demonstrators took to the streets near Charminar in Hyderabad on Friday (July 24, 2026) to protest against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak and express solidarity with students demonstrating in the national capital. They also condemned the proposed demolition of buildings at the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Uttar Pradesh.

Slogans on students’ needs

The protest was led by the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) and saw participants carrying placards with slogans such as “Students Need Classrooms, Not Chaos” and “Justice for Students, Justice for Jauhar”. Soon after Friday prayers concluded at the Mecca Masjid, many other young men joined the peaceful demonstration, raising slogans against what they described as the government’s anti-student policies. They also sought the resignation of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Demands

The protesters demanded strict action against those responsible for irregularities and question paper leaks. They further demanded an establishment of a transparent, accountable, corruption free and student friendly exam system, and protection of the democratic right to peacefully protest.

Speaking to the media, SIO Telangana president Mohammed Faraz Ahmed alleged said that conduct of national level examinations were failing. He added that question paper leaks were a result of corruption and administrative negligence which had severely taken a toll on the confidence of students and parents across the country. The future of lakhs of students, he said, could not be jeopardised on account of a flawed examination system.

He alleged that the National Testing Agency (NTA) had failed to discharge its duty of conducting examinations in a fair, transparent, and credible manner. Protesters demanded the immediate resignation of Mr. Pradhan and called for the abolition of the agency.

The paper leaks had caused a great deal of anxiety and mental stress within the student community. He said that students spend a great deal of time to prepare for such tests. Condemning the police action against peaceful protesters in the national capital, he said that in a democracy, voices of dissent must be heard rather than suppressed.

People participate in a march led by Students Islamic Organisation of India’s (SIO) at Charminar in Hyderabad on Friday (July 24, 2026) | Video Credit: NAGARA GOPAL