Clashes Erupt at BHU as Over 3,000 Students Stage 'Student Justice March' Backing Sonam Wangchuk

VARANASI, INDIA — High tension gripped the campus of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) as over 3,000 students organized a massive "Student Justice March" to express solidarity with climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk while demanding the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protest march—stretching from the iconic Vishwanath Temple (VT) inside the campus to Mahila Mahavidyalaya (MMV)—turned chaotic as demonstrators clashed with campus security personnel and local police forces deployed to manage the crowd.

Demonstrators Scale Walls and Vehicles Amid Scuffles

Carrying posters, banners, and placards, the massive crowd reverberated with high-pitched slogans questioning the government's stance on educational reforms and student welfare. As police and BHU security personnel set up barricades near Mahila Mahavidyalaya to halt the procession, heated arguments broke out, escalating into physical scuffles.

Determined to press forward, several students were seen climbing university vehicles and perimeter walls to display placards and address the gathering, bypassing security cordons.

Core Demands Raised by the Students

The "Student Justice March" highlighted several pressing grievances regarding national education policy and exam governance:

• Resignation of Union Minister: Demanding structural accountability and the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over recent administrative and examination controversies.

• Solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk: Standing in firm support of activist Sonam Wangchuk's ongoing nation-wide campaign and hunger strike advocating for institutional accountability and environmental-educational reforms.

• Transparent Exam Mechanisms: Calling for systemic overhauls to restore public faith in nationwide competitive examinations and prevent future paper leaks.