Tejashwi Yadav threatens 'major protest' over Bihar NEET FIRs
Synopsis
A day after the Centre promised to withdraw NEET protest FIRs across India, Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav is warning that the state's NDA government is dragging its feet — with detentions allegedly continuing and an AK-47 firing claim adding explosive charge to an already volatile standoff.
Key Takeaways
Tejashwi Yadav on 26 July warned the Samrat Choudhary -led Bihar NDA government of a 'major protest' if NEET demonstrators' FIRs are not withdrawn.
The Centre had on 25 July agreed to drop all police cases against NEET protesters, following talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) .
The CJP called off its pan-India agitation after former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the government accepted its demands.
Yadav alleged students were being 'forcefully detained' across multiple Bihar districts despite the Delhi agreement, with Tej Pratap Yadav and several RJD MLAs also reportedly detained.
He claimed 'AK-47 was used to fire on students' — an allegation not independently verified at the time of reporting.
Yadav also alleged a broader pattern of exam paper leaks under the NDA government, citing BPSC , NEET , and constable recruitment irregularities.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader and Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday, 26 July issued a sharp warning to the Samrat Choudhary-led NDA government in Bihar, threatening a 'major protest' if cases registered against NEET paper leak demonstrators across the state are not withdrawn by Monday. The warning came a day after the Centre reached an agreement in Delhi to drop all police cases filed against protesting students nationwide.
Background: The Centre's Agreement
The Centre on Saturday, 25 July agreed to withdraw all police cases lodged against students protesting the NEET paper leak and to provide written confirmation of the FIR withdrawals, following a third round of talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been leading the pan-India agitation. The CJP subsequently called off the movement after the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the government's acceptance of the outfit's remaining demands.
What Tejashwi Yadav Said
Speaking to reporters in Patna, Yadav said the students who protested against the paper leak 'fought a battle for their better future,' and that opposition parties, including the RJD, had joined the struggle in solidarity. He questioned why Bihar appeared to be handling the FIR withdrawals separately from the rest of the country, despite the Delhi agreement.
'When it was decided yesterday that the cases would be withdrawn, how is this being handled separately in Bihar? We do not want to make just an appeal; we want to warn the government that if, by tomorrow, all cases against those who have been jailed — the hundreds and thousands of students who are the future of Bihar and the country — are not withdrawn and they are not released, then we will launch a major protest,' Yadav said.
Allegations of Continued Detentions
Yadav alleged that despite the Centre's commitment, protesters in Bihar were being 'forcefully detained.' He claimed that students had been detained in 'almost every district' of the state and that several RJD MLAs were also taken into custody, including his brother Tej Pratap Yadav. He further alleged that the police acted 'in an improper manner' in various districts, claiming that 'AK-47 was used to fire on students yesterday' — an allegation that has not been independently verified.
Broader Criticism of NDA Governance
Yadav broadened his attack on the ruling coalition, alleging a pattern of examination irregularities under the NDA government in Bihar. 'Whether it is constable recruitment, BPSC, NEET, or any other examination — large-scale irregularities and scams have taken place, and question papers have been leaked,' he said. He called for political unity to oust the current government, arguing that the paper leak problem would persist otherwise.
What Happens Next
The Bihar government is yet to formally respond to Yadav's ultimatum. With the Centre having committed to nationwide FIR withdrawals and the CJP having suspended its agitation, pressure is mounting on state authorities to align with the Delhi agreement. Whether Bihar's NDA administration acts before Yadav's self-imposed deadline will determine if fresh protests erupt on the ground.
Point of View
And if Bihar's NDA machinery is selectively stalling, it undermines the credibility of that deal. The unverified AK-47 allegation, however, is a serious claim that demands independent verification before it shapes public discourse. More broadly, the NEET crisis has exposed a recurring fault line: examination integrity collapses at the state level while political accountability remains diffuse. Bihar, with its history of exam scam controversies, is a particularly charged arena for this confrontation.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Tejashwi Yadav threatening protests over NEET FIRs in Bihar?
Yadav is demanding that the Bihar government withdraw cases registered against NEET paper leak protesters, in line with the Centre's agreement reached on 25 July to drop such FIRs nationwide. He alleges that despite this agreement, students in Bihar continue to be detained, and has set a Monday deadline before launching a major protest.
What did the Centre agree to regarding NEET protest FIRs?
Following a third round of talks with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the Centre agreed on 25 July to withdraw all police cases filed against students protesting the NEET paper leak and to provide written confirmation of the FIR withdrawals. The CJP called off its pan-India agitation in response.
Who is the Cockroach Janta Party and what role did it play?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is the outfit that spearheaded the pan-India agitation against the NEET paper leak. It suspended the movement on Saturday after former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and the government accepted its remaining demands.
What allegations has Tejashwi Yadav made against the Bihar police?
Yadav alleged that police detained students in almost every district of Bihar despite the Centre's FIR withdrawal commitment. He also claimed that 'AK-47 was used to fire on students' — an allegation that has not been independently verified. Several RJD MLAs and his brother Tej Pratap Yadav were also reportedly detained.
What is the broader context of Tejashwi Yadav's criticism of the Bihar NDA government?
Beyond the NEET issue, Yadav alleged a pattern of examination irregularities under the NDA government in Bihar, citing paper leaks in BPSC, constable recruitment, and other competitive exams. He called for political unity to remove the current government, arguing the problem of paper leaks would not stop otherwise.
