Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Wednesday, 22 July led a large-scale demonstration outside the Punjab Congress headquarters in Chandigarh, accusing the opposition party of exploiting the NEET examination controversy for narrow political ends. Hundreds of BJP workers participated in the protest, which formed part of a nationwide agitation the party has mounted against the Congress.

Protest and Preventive Custody

BJP workers attempted to march toward the Congress office but were halted by Chandigarh Police, which erected heavy barricading to contain the crowd. Dhillon, accompanied by several senior party leaders and hundreds of workers, was subsequently taken into preventive custody before being released from the police station in Sector 11.

What Dhillon Said

Speaking to the media ahead of his detention, Dhillon alleged that the Congress had exposed what he called its 'anti-democratic mindset' by choosing street agitation over accountability following repeated electoral defeats. He charged that the party was 'shamelessly using students as political pawns to revive its shrinking political relevance.'

Targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Dhillon alleged that after returning from foreign travel, the Congress leader had 'once again resorted to political theatrics in the name of students instead of standing with them.' He added: 'The Congress is not interested in justice for students; it is only interested in manufacturing political controversies.'

BJP's Defence of the Modi Government's NEET Response

Dhillon argued that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had acted decisively from the outset of the NEET controversy by ordering a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and ensuring accountability. He stated that 13 accused had already been arrested and maintained that the government had adopted a zero-tolerance stance toward those attempting to compromise the futures of India's students.

Drawing a historical comparison, Dhillon alleged that multiple major examination paper leaks occurred during the Congress-led UPA government between 2004 and 2014 without meaningful investigation, contrasting that record with what he described as swift and transparent action under the current administration.

Congress-AAP Collusion Allegation and Faridkot Scam

Dhillon also levelled allegations of political collusion between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), pointing to what he described as the conspicuous silence of both parties over an alleged pharmacy examination cheating scam in Faridkot. 'Why are Congress and AAP silent when examination scams take place in Punjab?' he asked.

BJP's Stated Resolve

Concluding his address, Dhillon asserted that police action and barricades would not deter BJP workers from exposing what he called the Congress's 'double standards and anti-student politics.' The party, he said, remains committed to protecting democratic institutions and safeguarding the interests of India's youth. The nationwide agitation signals that the BJP intends to sustain pressure on the Congress over the NEET issue in the weeks ahead.