Dozens of demonstrators took to the streets near Charminar in Hyderabad on Friday (July 24, 2026) to protest against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak and express solidarity with students demonstrating in the national capital. They also condemned the proposed demolition of buildings at the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Uttar Pradesh.

Slogans on students’ needs

The protest was led by the Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) and saw participants carrying placards with slogans such as “Students Need Classrooms, Not Chaos” and “Justice for Students, Justice for Jauhar”. Soon after Friday prayers concluded at the Mecca Masjid, many other young men joined the peaceful demonstration, raising slogans against what they described as the government’s anti-student policies. They also sought the resignation of the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Demands

The protesters demanded strict action against those responsible for irregularities and question paper leaks. They further demanded an establishment of a transparent, accountable, corruption free and student friendly exam system, and protection of the democratic right to peacefully protest.

Speaking to the media, SIO Telangana president Mohammed Faraz Ahmed alleged said that conduct of national level examinations were failing. He added that question paper leaks were a result of corruption and administrative negligence which had severely taken a toll on the confidence of students and parents across the country. The future of lakhs of students, he said, could not be jeopardised on account of a flawed examination system.

He alleged that the National Testing Agency (NTA) had failed to discharge its duty of conducting examinations in a fair, transparent, and credible manner. Protesters demanded the immediate resignation of Mr. Pradhan and called for the abolition of the agency.

The paper leaks had caused a great deal of anxiety and mental stress within the student community. He said that students spend a great deal of time to prepare for such tests. Condemning the police action against peaceful protesters in the national capital, he said that in a democracy, voices of dissent must be heard rather than suppressed.

People participate in a march led by Students Islamic Organisation of India’s (SIO) at Charminar in Hyderabad on Friday (July 24, 2026)
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NAGARA GOPAL

The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao advised Prime Minister Narendra Modi to recognise the changing voice of the youth and not to underestimate the power of the youngsters as they were not afraid of CBI or ED.

Referring to the ongoing protests across the country, he alleged that the anger among students extended beyond the examination paper leak issue and reflected frustration over unemployment and unfulfilled promises made by the Centre.

KTR made these observations at a protest at Indira Park in Hyderabad, organised in solidarity with students and youth protesting against the alleged police crackdown on demonstrators in New Delhi over the examination paper leak issue.

He also questioned the Prime Minister’s silence on the examination paper leak controversy, asking why the government was unwilling to discuss the issue despite repeatedly speaking about education and examinations. He said the Centre should engage with students and resolve their grievances rather than branding protesters as anti-national or resorting to police action.

Demands

Condemning the police action against students in Delhi, he demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, withdrawal of criminal cases registered against protesting students and an apology from the Centre for the alleged excesses. “The youth is not afraid of CBI or ED that are used by the Government to threaten others,” he remarked.

KTR also criticised the BJP government’s employment record, alleging that the promise of creating two crore jobs annually had remained unfulfilled. Accusing the Centre of failing to ensure transparency in competitive examinations, he said students were demanding accountability and reforms in the education system. “Promising ‘Make in India’, this government had delivered ‘Leak in India’,” he said in a sarcastic tone.

Criticising the Telangana government, the BRS working president accused Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of attempting to obstruct the BRS from raising the issue. He questioned why the State government was allegedly targeting the BRS instead of joining other Opposition parties in demanding accountability from the Centre.

Mr. Rao said Mr. Reddy did not even join the protests of his [Congress] leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi indicating where his loyalties existed.

He asserted that the BRS, which had led the Telangana Statehood movement, would continue to stand by students and youth whenever their rights were threatened. He also said BRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao was closely monitoring developments and would continue to support issues concerning students and young people.