BJP condemns Congress protest outside PM Modi's residence over NEET row
Synopsis
Gujarat BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma led a counter-protest outside Congress headquarters in Ahmedabad, calling the opposition's demonstration outside PM Modi's residence an attack on democratic norms and security protocols. The BJP's pushback underscores how the NEET paper leak row has rapidly escalated from an education scandal into a full-blown political confrontation.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma led a sit-in outside Congress headquarters, Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan , in Ahmedabad on 22 July .
The counter-protest was a direct response to Congress staging a demonstration outside PM Modi 's residence in New Delhi on Tuesday over the NEET paper leak .
Vishwakarma accused Congress of 'violating the dignity of democracy and spreading anarchy' and breaching security protocols around the PM's residence.
BJP claimed the Central government had conducted a 'transparent investigation' into NEET and that PM Modi had issued 'clear and strict instructions' on paper leaks.
Senior BJP leaders including Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot and state general secretaries Aniruddh Dave and Prashant Korat were present at the protest.
Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Jagdish Vishwakarma on Wednesday, 22 July accused the Congress of 'violating the dignity of democracy and spreading anarchy' after the opposition party staged a demonstration outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi on Tuesday over the alleged NEET paper leak and its demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
BJP's Counter-Protest in Ahmedabad
Vishwakarma led a BJP sit-in outside the Congress headquarters at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Ahmedabad's Paldi area, directly in response to the Congress demonstration at the Prime Minister's official residence. BJP workers assembled carrying banners and raising slogans condemning the opposition's actions.
Among those present were state general secretaries Aniruddh Dave and Prashant Korat, state spokesperson Anil Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, BJP city and district presidents from Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, along with MLAs, party office-bearers, and senior leaders.
What the BJP Said
Addressing party workers, Vishwakarma said, 'In a democracy, every political party has the right to protest, but the Congress is violating the dignity of democracy and spreading anarchy.' He argued that students' concerns and issues of public interest should be discussed in a responsible and constructive manner, rather than being exploited for political purposes.
'Having remained out of power for years, the Congress is now engaged in conspiracies to mislead the youth for political gain,' he added. The BJP leader also asserted that the Congress protest had violated democratic norms, the dignity of the office of the Prime Minister, and established security protocols around the residence.
BJP's Stand on the NEET Controversy
On the substance of the NEET paper leak row, Vishwakarma contended that the Central government had conducted a 'transparent investigation', taken strict action against those responsible, and put in place measures to prevent recurrence. He added that Prime Minister Modi had issued 'clear and strict instructions' to the concerned authorities on the paper leak issue.
This comes amid sustained pressure on the government over the NEET-UG 2024 examination controversy, which has drawn widespread student protests across the country and triggered demands for a re-test and ministerial accountability.
BJP's Broader Political Messaging
Vishwakarma also invoked India's international standing, noting that 'more than 34 countries across the world have conferred their highest honours on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reflecting India's growing strength on the global stage.' He claimed that development under the present government had strengthened public confidence in the BJP, and that 'the aware people of Gujarat and the country will never allow the political conspiracies of the Congress to succeed.'
With the NEET controversy showing no signs of abating, both parties appear set to intensify their political positioning in the days ahead.
Point of View
The BJP avoids engaging directly with the core grievance: that a high-stakes national examination was compromised. The NEET controversy has already cost the government significant political capital among aspirant youth, a demographic it cannot afford to alienate. Whether the 'transparent investigation' claim holds up will depend on the outcomes of ongoing judicial and agency scrutiny — scrutiny that the BJP's counter-narrative cannot wish away.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the BJP hold a protest outside Congress headquarters in Ahmedabad?
The BJP organised a sit-in outside the Congress headquarters at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in Ahmedabad on 22 July to counter the Congress protest held outside PM Modi's residence in New Delhi on Tuesday. The BJP accused Congress of violating democratic norms and security protocols by demonstrating at the Prime Minister's official residence.
What was the Congress protesting about outside PM Modi's residence?
The Congress staged a demonstration outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in New Delhi over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest was part of sustained opposition pressure over the examination controversy.
What did BJP's Jagdish Vishwakarma say about the NEET controversy?
Vishwakarma claimed the Central government had conducted a transparent investigation into the NEET paper leak, taken strict action against those responsible, and implemented measures to prevent future incidents. He also said PM Modi had issued clear and strict instructions to authorities on the paper leak issue.
Who attended the BJP counter-protest in Ahmedabad?
The protest was led by Gujarat BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma and attended by state general secretaries Aniruddh Dave and Prashant Korat, state spokesperson Anil Patel, Ahmedabad Mayor Hitesh Barot, BJP city and district presidents from Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, MLAs, and senior party leaders.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET-UG 2024 paper leak controversy refers to allegations that question papers for India's national medical entrance examination were leaked before the test, compromising its integrity. The issue has triggered student protests nationwide and demands for a re-examination and ministerial accountability.
