Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday, 20 July 2026, condemned the use of police force against students marching to Parliament in New Delhi to demand accountability over the NEET paper-leak scandal, calling the crackdown an act of political fear by the BJP-led central government.

Context

Students from multiple states had converged on the capital to press for justice in the NEET paper-leak case, which has roiled India's competitive examination ecosystem. As the protesters marched toward Parliament, security forces responded with lathi charges and tear gas, drawing widespread condemnation from opposition leaders.

Revanth Reddy, who also serves as Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president, posted directly on X (formerly Twitter), stating that 'every blow struck against a protesting student exposes the BJP's fear of questions, truth and democratic dissent.'

Policy Backdrop

The NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) paper-leak controversy has been one of the most politically charged education-policy crises in recent years, raising questions about the integrity of centralised examinations administered by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Allegations of question-paper leaks and irregularities triggered protests across states, demands for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe, and calls for an overhaul of the NTA.

The Congress party, both at the national and state levels, has consistently demanded full accountability from the Union Ministry of Education, including the resignation of responsible officials and a time-bound judicial inquiry. Revanth Reddy's statement extends that party line while adding a sharp critique of the police response to peaceful protest.

Stakeholders and Impact

At the centre of the crisis are lakhs of medical aspirants whose futures hinge on the credibility of the NEET examination. The protest march to Parliament was intended to place student grievances directly before elected representatives, making the police action particularly symbolic in its political implications.

Opposition-governed states have increasingly used the NEET controversy to challenge the central government's handling of education policy and examination administration. Revanth Reddy's public solidarity adds the weight of a sitting chief minister to the chorus of voices demanding an end to what protesters describe as institutional failure and suppression of dissent.

What's Next

Revanth Reddy has demanded an 'immediate end to police brutality' and 'accountability in the NEET and other paper leaks scandal,' signalling that the Congress party intends to keep pressure on the central government both in the streets and in legislative forums. With the student protest movement showing no signs of abating, the political fallout from the lathi-charge visuals is likely to intensify scrutiny of the government's law-and-order response to democratic dissent on a deeply personal issue for millions of young Indians.