AAP Holds All-Faith Prayer Meeting in Varanasi to Support NEET Protesters

VARANASI — Stepping up its support for the nationwide student movement against alleged examination irregularities, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Varanasi South Assembly unit organized an all-faith prayer meeting at the Town Hall Ground in Maidagin.

Gathering in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue, AAP members and local supporters stood in solidarity with the students currently protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The demonstration focused on the recent controversies surrounding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and other competitive exams, amplifying demands for a transparent, leak-free examination system across the country.

Echoing National Demands

For the past week, students and youth from various parts of India have been camping at Jantar Mantar to protest what they describe as systemic failures and repeated paper leaks in critical examinations. A central demand of the ongoing agitation is the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Protesters argue that the minister must take moral responsibility for the compromises in the examination process that have jeopardized the futures of millions of aspirants.

The Varanasi prayer meeting was organized to channel spiritual and political support for these students, aligning the local AAP cadre with the broader, nationwide push for accountability.

High-Profile Support at Jantar Mantar

The movement in Delhi has drawn significant attention, bolstered by the involvement of prominent figures. Renowned educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar for the past week to stand in solidarity with the protesting youth. Reports indicate that Wangchuk's health has been steadily deteriorating and he has lost significant weight, yet he remains steadfast in his demand for educational reforms and accountability.

Adding political weight to the cause, Rajya Sabha MP and AAP’s Uttar Pradesh in-charge, Sanjay Singh, also visited the Jantar Mantar protest site recently to personally extend his support to the students.

By organizing the all-faith prayer meeting in Varanasi, AAP leaders aim to ensure the momentum of the Delhi protests resonates throughout Uttar Pradesh, keeping the pressure on the central government to address the students' grievances.