NEET fallout: Protest, counter-protests by ruling Cong and opposition BJP in Karnataka

Bengaluru: Protests and counter-protests over the alleged NEET question paper leak and the political fallout from the issue were held across several parts of Karnataka on Friday, with police detaining protesters, preventing rival groups from clashing and stepping up security at multiple locations.

Student groups, Dalit organisations, Youth Congress activists and civil society groups held protests over the alleged NEET irregularities and the reported police action against students in Delhi. The BJP has been protesting against the attack on its leaders during their agitation near the Congress office in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

BJP MLA targeted during NEET protest

Congress workers reportedly threw eggs at BJP legislator B P Harish, when he took part in the agitation to protest the Congress demonstration in front of the BJP office at Malleswaram in the city. In Vijayapura, the BJP, led by district president Gurulingappa Angadi, held a protest at Ambedkar Circle, accusing the Congress government of "hooliganism" and later marched towards the Deputy Commissioner's office.

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Simultaneously, Progressive Dalit organisations and Aam Aadmi Party activists opposed the BJP protest, raising slogans against the party. Police intervened to prevent a confrontation between the two groups, detained more than 15 Dalit activists and brought the tense situation under control.

Youth Congress stages NEET protest in Hubballi

In Hubballi, students and Youth Congress activists staged a demonstration outside the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), alleging that the Centre had failed to ensure transparency in the NEET examination. Protesters attempted to burn effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, but police prevented the attempt and seized the effigies. A brief verbal altercation followed before the protest ended peacefully amid heavy police deployment.

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In Kalaburagi, members of the Democratic Thought Forum organised a protest march at Jagat Circle, condemning the alleged lathi charge on students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar over the NEET issue. In a separate demonstration, the Sneha Jagruti Suraksha Manch submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner seeking a fair probe into the alleged NEET irregularities and comprehensive reforms in the education and justice systems.

The BJP also organised a separate protest in Kalaburagi, blocking traffic at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Circle before attempting to march towards the district Congress office. Police stopped the protesters by erecting barricades and detained several BJP leaders and workers, including MLA Avinash Jadhav and former MLA Dattatreya Patil Revoor.

BJP rally over NEET stopped in Belagavi

In Belagavi, BJP workers took out a rally from Rani Channamma Circle and attempted to lay siege to the Congress office, alleging that recent protests over the NEET issue were being used to insult the Prime Minister, raise anti-national slogans and target BJP legislators. Police prevented the march from proceeding beyond barricades, leading to a brief face-off before the demonstrators were dispersed.

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BJP leaders later submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner seeking action against those allegedly involved in raising anti-national slogans. A similar confrontation took place in Chitradurga, where a large number of BJP workers led by MLC K S Naveen protested outside the Congress office.

Congress workers countered the demonstration, resulting in a heated exchange between supporters of the two parties before police intervened and restored order. Tight security was maintained to prevent any untoward incident.