Shillong, Jul 20: Hundreds of students, youth and citizens staged a peaceful protest at Don Bosco Square, Laitumkhrah on Monday in solidarity with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party’s stir in Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Carrying placards reading “All is not well”, “Students died because the system failed them” and “We stand with the youth at Jantar Mantar”, protesters demanded accountability from the central government.
“We do not support the kind of treatment he got from the authorities… we pray he comes back in better shape because the country needs people like him,” a student said. He added that three other students on hunger strike had reportedly ended their fast and criticised the centre’s silence, noting “20 plus days is too much for a person to go on a hunger strike.”
Another speaker said the issue went beyond exams. “This is about accountability in the education system, but also about democracy, corruption and minority rights,” he said.
Protesters alleged force was used against demonstrators in Delhi and urged the government to bring reforms to restore credibility to competitive exams.
Congress General Secretary Manuel Badwar also joined the protest. He criticised the BJP-led centre’s handling of the issue and said the protests reflect a “profound loss of confidence among students.” Badwar echoed the demand for Pradhan’s resignation and called for concrete measures to restore trust in the examination system.
