Hyderabad police on Tuesday, 21 July stopped and lathi-charged students attempting to march towards Lok Bhavan — the official residence of the Telangana Governor — demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy. The crackdown triggered fresh tension on the streets of Hyderabad, adding to a wave of student protests sweeping the country.

What Happened at Khairatabad

Members of several student organisations, raising slogans against the Central government, attempted to march towards Lok Bhavan when police intercepted them at Khairatabad. An argument broke out between protesters and police, after which demonstrators squatted on the road and demanded permission to stage a demonstration in front of Lok Bhavan.

The Students Federation of India (SFI) and allied groups alleged that police used lathis to disperse the crowd, assaulted and dragged several protesters, and arrested a number of them. The groups condemned what they described as excessive use of force. Police have not issued a detailed public statement on the nature of the action taken.

What the Protesters Are Demanding

Carrying placards, the demonstrators claimed that 21 students lost their lives as a consequence of the NEET paper leak. Beyond seeking the resignation of the Prime Minister and the Education Minister, protesters at a parallel gathering near the Press Club in Somajiguda demanded ₹1 crore compensation to the family of each of the 21 students said to have died following the leak.

Students at Hyderabad Central University and Osmania University also staged solidarity protests, mirroring demonstrations under way at Jantar Mantar in the national capital.

The Political Flashpoint

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy declared that the Indian National Congress (INC) stands with protesting youth across the country. In a post on X, Reddy wrote: 'The Hope of India, Shri Rahul Gandhi, is on protest for the Future of India, seeking resignation of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Our national president Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji and Smt Priyanka Gandhi ji are giving courage and extending fullest support to all the youth who are protesting across the country. We are with you, youth of India. Congress ka haath, Yuva ke saath!'

Student groups, however, raised a pointed question: why was the Congress-led Telangana government deploying force against protesters in Hyderabad while simultaneously condemning similar police action against demonstrators in New Delhi? The contradiction drew sharp attention on social media and among opposition voices within the state.

Broader Context

The NEET paper leak controversy has set off a national reckoning over the integrity of competitive examinations in India. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which determines medical college admissions across the country, has been at the centre of allegations of question-paper leaks and irregularities that the Centre has been under pressure to address. The protests in Hyderabad are part of a wider mobilisation that has seen student groups from multiple political affiliations take to the streets.

With the political temperature rising and students continuing to organise, the Telangana government faces growing pressure to clarify its stance — and its response to its own police force's actions will be closely watched in the days ahead.