Shillong, July 24: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has slammed the Delhi Police for its crackdown on students during their recent demonstration led by Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), demanding resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
NESO called it a violation of democratic rights and urged the Centre to engage with protesting students instead of resorting to force.
The use of batons, tear gas and the alleged presence of plainclothes personnel with lathis against unarmed demonstrators was “deeply disturbing”, NESO chairman Samuel B Jyrwa said in a statement on Friday.
The protest, NESO noted, was centered on long-standing grievances faced by students across the country — recurring leaks of competitive exam papers and a lack of transparency and accountability in recruitment and testing systems.
“These are not fringe issues. They concern the future of millions of young aspirants,” the statement said.
“Rather than addressing the concerns through dialogue, the government chose the path of intimidation and repression.”
NESO argued that systemic failures and administrative negligence should not be allowed to undermine the efforts of students who prepare in good faith for national examinations.
The students’ body expressed solidarity with all those who participated in the peaceful march and extended support to those injured in the crackdown, wishing them a quick recovery.
NESO has called on the Government of India to open channels for sincere dialogue, fix accountability for the use of excessive force, and bring in comprehensive reforms to rebuild trust in the examination and recruitment framework.”
Restoring credibility, fairness and integrity in these systems is urgent,” the organization said, adding that the aspirations of students cannot be compromised by repeated lapses.
