Chirag Paswan opposes force against students at Jantar Mantar protest
Synopsis
A senior NDA minister breaking ranks — even partially — over police action against students is the real story here. Chirag Paswan’s call for dialogue over force at Jantar Mantar signals internal unease within the ruling coalition over the NEET controversy, and raises the question of whether the government’s hardline response is politically sustainable.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on 21 July said he is ‘absolutely not in favour’ of suppressing student voices through force.
Students had gathered at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi , demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak and resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan .
Paswan called dialogue ‘a beautiful medium’ and urged the government to keep its doors open to students.
He offered a partial caveat, acknowledging that authorities may act if law and order is affected, but said he does not ‘strongly support’ such measures.
Opposition parties have accused the NDA government of suppressing student protests rather than addressing the NEET-UG 2024 irregularities.
Union Minister Chirag Paswan on Tuesday, 21 July distanced himself from the police action against student demonstrators at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, stating he does not support the use of force to silence students and calling for meaningful dialogue between the government and protesters. His remarks came as the crackdown on student demonstrators sparked a fresh political storm.
What Paswan Said
The Lok Jansakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief and Union Minister said he respects the sentiments that drove students onto the streets, acknowledging their anger as legitimate. “The way the protest took place yesterday, I respect the sentiments of the students. It is natural that they would have anger and concerns over these issues, which is why they came out on the streets,” Paswan said.
He was unambiguous in his opposition to coercive measures. “I am absolutely not in favour of any attempt to suppress the voices of students through force. Dialogue is a beautiful medium, and the government has always kept its doors open for it,” he added.
The Nuance in His Position
While firmly opposing force, Paswan acknowledged a distinction between peaceful protest and situations where law and order is disrupted. “Many times, public anger leads people to come out on the streets, and in a democracy, peaceful protest is permitted. However, if certain limits are crossed or if law and order is affected, sometimes strict steps have to be taken. I do not strongly support such measures,” he said, stopping short of a full condemnation of the police intervention.
Background: The Jantar Mantar Protest
Students and competitive exam aspirants had gathered at Jantar Mantar to demand accountability over the alleged leak of NEET papers and to call for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The demonstration drew a significant crowd before authorities intervened, triggering widespread criticism from Opposition parties.
This comes amid a broader national controversy over the NEET-UG 2024 examination, which has been mired in allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, prompting student protests in multiple cities across India.
Political Fallout
Opposition leaders have accused the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of suppressing student voices rather than addressing their substantive grievances. Paswan’s remarks are notable given that his party is a constituent of the NDA, making his implicit criticism of the police action a rare instance of intra-coalition dissent on the issue.
With the NEET controversy showing no signs of abating, the government faces mounting pressure to engage with students directly. Whether Paswan’s call for dialogue translates into a formal outreach remains to be seen.
Point of View
Hedged enough not to directly indict the police or the government. That he felt the need to speak at all reflects the political cost the NEET controversy is beginning to impose on NDA constituents. The more important question his statement leaves unanswered is structural: the government’s ‘open doors’ for dialogue have not produced any concrete response to the NEET irregularity allegations. Symbolic openness without accountability is unlikely to satisfy students or defuse the opposition’s narrative.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Chirag Paswan say about the Jantar Mantar student protest?
Chirag Paswan said he is ‘absolutely not in favour’ of suppressing students’ voices through force, and called for dialogue as the best way to resolve the standoff. He made the remarks on 21 July in response to questions about police action against student demonstrators at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Why were students protesting at Jantar Mantar?
Students and competitive exam aspirants gathered at Jantar Mantar to demand accountability over the alleged leak of NEET-UG 2024 papers and to call for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest is part of a wider wave of student demonstrations over examination irregularities.
Is Chirag Paswan part of the government that ordered the police action?
Yes, Chirag Paswan is a Union Minister and his Lok Jansakti Party (Ram Vilas) is a constituent of the NDA-led government. His remarks distancing himself from the use of force represent a rare instance of intra-coalition dissent on the issue.
What has the Opposition said about the student protest crackdown?
Opposition leaders have accused the NDA government of suppressing student voices rather than addressing their grievances over the NEET paper leak. The police action at Jantar Mantar has triggered a broader political debate about the government’s handling of the examination controversy.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET-UG 2024 examination has been embroiled in allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, prompting widespread student protests across India. Students have demanded accountability from the government and called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the issue.
