Anti-government protests in India intensified on Wednesday as thousands of students continued their sit-in at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged exam paper leaks and police action against demonstrators.
The protests gained significant public support, with volunteers and people from across the country providing free food, water, and other essentials to the demonstrators. Student leaders said they would continue their protest until their demands are met.
The standoff also disrupted Parliament for a third consecutive day. Opposition parties, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, backed the students’ demands and accused the government of failing to curb repeated examination paper leaks. Gandhi claimed that more than 150 exam paper leaks had occurred over the past decade without any meaningful accountability.
The government has expressed willingness to hold discussions but has ruled out removing the education minister, calling the demand politically motivated. Student leaders rejected talks unless they take place at the protest site or at a mutually agreed neutral venue.
Meanwhile, solidarity protests were reported in several Indian cities, including Ahmedabad and Bengaluru, while authorities tightened security in New Delhi by restricting access to parts of the city and temporarily closing several metro stations.
The protests show no signs of easing, with both the student movement and opposition parties maintaining pressure on the government.