Mamata Banerjee Condemns Police Action Against Students Protesting NEET Paper Leak

Mamata Banerjee Criticizes Police Response to Student Protests

Mamata Banerjee, the leader of the Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister of West Bengal, expressed her deep sorrow on Monday regarding the police's actions against students and youth protesting in Delhi over allegations of a NEET exam paper leak. She criticized the central government, stating that it should have opted for dialogue instead of resorting to force.

On the first day of the Monsoon session of Parliament, thousands of protesters marched towards Parliament Street in Delhi, chanting 'Chalo Sansad'. Tensions escalated between security forces and demonstrators, leading to police using batons and tear gas. In response to this incident, Banerjee condemned the police's actions as brutal through her social media channels.

Questioning the central government's approach, Banerjee asked what kind of government fears its own students. She emphasized that responding to citizens' concerns with batons and tear gas is unacceptable in a democracy. According to her, every citizen, whether students, farmers, women, or workers, has the democratic right to express dissent.

She clarified that expressing disagreement is not a crime and that brutality should never be a method of governance. Additionally, Banerjee alleged that attempts are being made to prevent her party's annual Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata on July 21, with activists being denied permission for meetings and processions.

After reviewing preparations for the rally in the Birla Planetarium area, the former Chief Minister told the media that they received permission for the rally only after a directive from the Calcutta High Court. She claimed that activists are struggling to find accommodation, yet many people are still arriving in Kolkata in large numbers.