The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) on Wednesday, 10 June staged a large-scale protest rally — dubbed Maha Akrosh Samavesh — in Sambalpur, the Lok Sabha constituency of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, demanding his immediate resignation over the NEET-UG question paper leak and alleged irregularities in CBSE examination evaluation. Hundreds of NSUI workers and Indian National Congress (INC) leaders participated in the demonstration.

Key Figures at the Rally

NSUI National In-charge Kanhaiya Kumar, NSUI National President Vinod Jakhar, Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das, and Rajgangpur MLA C.S. Raazen Ekka were among the prominent leaders who addressed the gathering. The leaders were escorted from Ainthapali Chowk to the meeting venue in a decorated open jeep, accompanied by a large bike rally.

What Kanhaiya Kumar Said

Addressing the crowd, Kumar launched a sharp attack on Minister Pradhan, dubbing him 'Leak Pradhan'. He alleged that more than 80 examination papers had been leaked over the last 12 years, and that the NEET question paper had been compromised twice during Pradhan's tenure as Education Minister.

'More than 80 examination papers have been leaked in the last 12 years. During Dharmendra Pradhan's tenure, the NEET question paper has been leaked twice. Therefore, Dharmendra Pradhan should come before the people and accept responsibility for these failures. Save your state and Sambalpur from this embarrassment,' Kumar said.

Kumar further stated that if the minister had 'even a little sense of shame', he should admit his inability to run the Education Ministry and step down. He also pushed back against allegations of being anti-national, arguing that those 'playing with the future of students and the country were the real traitors.'

OPCC President's Allegations

OPCC President Bhakta Charan Das accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government of failing to protect students' interests. Das contended that repeated paper leaks and evaluation errors had triggered widespread anxiety among students and parents across India. He pledged that the Congress would maintain its 'democratic and peaceful protest' until student grievances were fully addressed.

Das also alleged that constitutional institutions in the country were being 'systematically weakened' by the BJP-led Centre — a charge the ruling party has not yet responded to publicly.

Broader Context and What's Next

The NEET-UG paper leak controversy has drawn national attention, with opposition parties accusing the Centre of mismanaging the country's high-stakes entrance examination system. Kumar indicated that the Students' Congress would escalate its agitation 'from the streets to Parliament' until concrete action was taken. This comes amid growing pressure on the Education Ministry from students, parents, and civil society groups demanding systemic reforms in examination conduct and oversight.