Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, sharply condemned the use of lathis and tear gas against protesters who marched toward Parliament demanding justice over the NEET question paper leak scandal, calling the police action 'brutal' and accusing the Modi Government of shielding those responsible for compromising the examination.

Context

Siddaramaiah stated that 'over 20,000 peaceful protestors' were marching toward Parliament to seek justice for victims of the NEET scandal when they were met with lathi-charges and tear gas. He framed the crackdown as an act of silencing dissent, writing: 'Instead of answering the questions of lakhs of students, the Modi Government has chosen to silence the questioners.'

The Chief Minister also drew a pointed political contrast, alleging that 'those destroying their future continue to enjoy protection' while the aspirations of youth are 'lathi-charged.' He added that the government 'seems to have mastered the art of leaking question papers while blocking questions in Parliament.'

Policy Backdrop

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the sole undergraduate medical entrance examination in India, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education established in 2017. The NTA was created to centralise and standardise national entrance examinations.

Allegations of question paper leaks and irregularities in NEET-UG first surfaced prominently in 2024, triggering petitions in the Supreme Court of India, student protests across multiple states, and demands for a CBI probe into the NTA's conduct. The controversy has since become a sustained flashpoint between opposition-ruled states and the BJP-led central government over institutional accountability in education.

Stakeholders and Impact

Lakhs of medical aspirants across India are directly affected, as NEET determines admission to undergraduate medical and dental programmes at government and private institutions. Any credibility crisis in the examination system has cascading effects on career timelines, coaching investments, and public trust in merit-based selection.

Opposition parties, particularly the Indian National Congress, have consistently raised the NEET irregularities issue in Parliament and in state assemblies. Congress-ruled state governments, including Karnataka, have used the controversy to press for greater state autonomy over medical admissions — a demand that predates the current scandal.

The protest march and its reported dispersal also raises questions about the right to peaceful assembly near legislative premises, a recurring point of friction between security agencies and civil society groups in New Delhi.

What's Next

With Parliament in session during the monsoon session of 2026, opposition parties are expected to press for debate and a statement from the government on the NEET controversy. Siddaramaiah's statement signals that Congress-ruled states intend to keep the issue politically live both inside and outside the legislature.

Any parliamentary committee inquiry or judicial development related to the NTA and NEET investigations in the coming weeks will be closely watched by student groups and state governments alike. The scale of the reported protest and the manner of its dispersal may also prompt questions in Parliament about the handling of youth demonstrations near the legislative complex.