Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday met activist Sonam Wangchuk and members of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, extending support to their ongoing protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process. Khera’s visit added to the growing political attention around the agitation, which has continued for more than three weeks. The CJP has been protesting at Jantar Mantar for over 25 days, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of paper leaks and other examination-related irregularities.

The protesters have raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the conduct of competitive examinations, particularly the NEET-UG medical entrance test. Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and has been on an indefinite hunger strike since then. The education reformer and activist has used the protest platform to highlight concerns raised by students and demand action from the government. The Congress had earlier appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast, citing concerns over his health condition. Khera’s meeting came a day after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav visited Wangchuk and other protesters at the Jantar Mantar site.

The visits by opposition leaders have brought renewed focus to the demands raised by the demonstrators and increased political pressure on the Centre to respond. During her interaction with the protesters, Dimple Yadav urged the Union government to hold discussions with Wangchuk and address the concerns raised by the CJP. She alleged that the BJP-led government had not taken adequate steps despite the ongoing hunger strike and concerns raised over student deaths reportedly linked to the alleged NEET paper leak controversy.

Also Read: Congress' Pawan Khera Targets PM Modi Over Silence On Trump's Iran Remarks At Funeral

The NEET examination has faced scrutiny after allegations of irregularities emerged, leading to demands from opposition parties and student groups for greater transparency in the examination system.  The government and examination authorities have maintained that measures are being taken to address concerns and ensure fairness in the process. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal on Thursday said that his party had been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for more than a month. The Congress has repeatedly criticised the government over examination-related issues and accused it of failing to protect the interests of students.

The Centre has faced continued political pressure from opposition parties over allegations surrounding competitive examinations, with the issue becoming a major point of debate in Parliament and outside. Student groups and activists have called for stronger safeguards to prevent paper leaks and ensure accountability in recruitment and admission processes. With Wangchuk’s hunger strike continuing and opposition leaders extending support to the protesters, the Jantar Mantar demonstration has emerged as a significant political issue. The coming days are expected to determine whether the government engages in talks with the protesters or announces further measures to address their concerns.

Also Read: Sonam Wangchuk Vows to Continue Fast Till July 20 Despite Health Warning