Hanuman Beniwal joins NEET paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar, backs Parliament march
Synopsis
Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal stepped directly from an all-party parliamentary meeting to the NEET protest at Jantar Mantar — a pointed signal that the paper leak controversy is no longer just a student agitation. With police lathi-charging marchers heading to Parliament, the crisis is fast becoming a test of the NDA government's accountability on examination integrity.
Key Takeaways
Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal joined the NEET paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar on 20 July , backing the Parliament March .
Beniwal raised NEET concerns at the all-party meeting before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla , Rajnath Singh , and J.P.
Protesters demand a transparent probe into paper leaks, stronger national anti-malpractice laws, and action against those responsible.
Delhi Police and paramilitary forces used lathi-charges and tear gas to stop students marching towards Parliament on Monday.
The agitation has drawn support from multiple political leaders, widening into a national movement for examination reform.
Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) National Convener and Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal on Sunday, 20 July joined students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, extending full support to the Parliament March demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Beniwal declared he was prepared to face lathi-charges alongside students calling for transparency and accountability in India's examination system.
Beniwal at the Protest Site
The Nagaur MP reached Jantar Mantar immediately after attending the all-party meeting convened ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, chaired in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President J.P. Nadda. Beniwal told the gathering that concerns over paper leaks and the NEET controversy had already been raised at that meeting, signalling cross-party awareness of the issue even before the march began.
Addressing students before the march, Beniwal accused the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government of failing to protect the futures of students and aspirants. He reiterated that he has consistently stood with the youth of Rajasthan and the country, and would continue to support their fight for a fair examination system.
What Protesters Are Demanding
Students and supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar have been pressing for a transparent and impartial investigation into alleged NEET and recruitment exam paper leaks, the enactment of stronger national legislation to curb examination malpractices, greater systemic accountability, and concrete action against those found responsible for the leaks.
Notably, the agitation has drawn backing from several political leaders and public figures, broadening it into a wider movement for reforms in India's examination and recruitment infrastructure.
Police Action During the Parliament March
As students marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament on Monday, Delhi Police and paramilitary forces — deployed in heavy numbers around both sites — resorted to lathi-charges and tear gas to deter the marchers from advancing further. The use of force drew sharp criticism from opposition quarters and protest organisers.
In a statement issued after the march, Beniwal asserted that in a democracy, students, youth, farmers, and citizens hold the constitutional right to raise their demands peacefully, and that suppressing such voices was unacceptable.
Broader Context
The NEET paper leak controversy has triggered nationwide outrage, with allegations of systemic irregularities in the conduct of one of India's most competitive medical entrance examinations. This comes amid a pattern of recurring examination malpractice cases across states, raising fundamental questions about the integrity of centralised testing bodies. The protest at Jantar Mantar is among the most visible expressions of student anger since the controversy erupted, and political support from figures like Beniwal suggests it is unlikely to fade quickly.
With the Monsoon Session of Parliament now under way, the NEET issue is expected to dominate proceedings as opposition parties seek accountability from the Centre.
Point of View
But it also reflects a genuine legislative vacuum: India still lacks a dedicated central law against examination malpractice with teeth. The lathi-charge on student marchers heading to Parliament is the kind of image that outlasts news cycles and hardens public sentiment. The NDA government faces a compounding problem: the NEET controversy is not just about one exam, it is about the credibility of every centralised test that determines life outcomes for millions of aspirants. Without a credible, independent inquiry and structural reform of testing bodies, each new session of Parliament risks becoming another arena for this unresolved crisis.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Hanuman Beniwal supporting the NEET protest?
Hanuman Beniwal, the Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) convener and Nagaur MP, joined the protest at Jantar Mantar on 20 July to demand transparency and accountability in India's examination system. He accused the NDA government of failing to protect students' futures and said he had already raised NEET concerns at the all-party meeting before the Monsoon Session.
What are students demanding at the Jantar Mantar NEET protest?
Students are demanding a transparent and impartial investigation into alleged NEET and recruitment exam paper leaks, stronger national laws against examination malpractices, greater accountability within the examination system, and action against those responsible for the leaks.
What happened during the Parliament March on Monday?
Delhi Police and paramilitary forces deployed heavy security around Jantar Mantar and Parliament. When students began marching towards Parliament, police resorted to lathi-charges and tear gas to prevent them from advancing further.
Who is Dharmendra Pradhan and why is his resignation being sought?
Dharmendra Pradhan is the Union Education Minister and the minister responsible for overseeing national examinations including NEET. Protesters are demanding his resignation, holding the government accountable for the alleged paper leak and recurring examination irregularities under his watch.
How significant is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak controversy has triggered nationwide outrage, raising serious questions about the integrity of centralised examinations that determine medical college admissions for millions of students. It is part of a broader pattern of alleged examination malpractice cases and has drawn political attention across party lines, with the issue expected to dominate the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
