Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Shillong: Protests rippled across Meghalaya this week as students, teachers, and activists rallied in support of the ongoing agitation at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Demonstrators gathered to condemn the NEET paper leak and demand sweeping changes to India’s recruitment and examination systems.
In Shillong on Thursday, hundreds filled Police Point to demand fairness. Attendees displayed signs calling for justice and merit protection. The city also saw a separate protest at Khyndai Lad led by the Hynniewtrep Youth Council, where speakers demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum joined the chorus, labeling the alleged police crackdown on students in Delhi as unacceptable.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma weighed in from Imphal on July 24. He stated that those responsible for the leaks must be held accountable. He expressed concern over the police handling of the Delhi protests, noting, "There is a lot of anger regarding the way it was handled, not just the primary issue, but also the second aspect where the students and the public felt there was excessive aggressiveness from the police." He added that he remains optimistic about current stakeholder dialogues.
At Williamnagar, the Garo Students' Union submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister via the East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner. The union demanded better school infrastructure, improved rural road connectivity, and a reduction in non-academic duties for teachers. They also called for district-level coaching centers to end the urban concentration of educational resources. Simultaneously, members of the Voice of the People Party Youth Wing traveled to New Delhi to present a formal letter of solidarity to Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke.
North-Eastern Hill University students organized their own event at the Central Library. Professors joined the crowd, warning the government against disregarding youth concerns. Professor Prasenjit Biswas argued that the current education system is failing, while others held a candlelight vigil for students lost to the NEET controversy. NESO chairman Samuel B. Jyrwa condemned the use of batons and tear gas against protesters, calling the response a brutal assault on democratic rights.
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