Karnataka Youth Congress to hold 'Raj Bhavan Chalo' protest over NEET paper leak row

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 17 : The Karnataka Youth Congress will organise a "Raj Bhavan Chalo" protest march in Bengaluru on May 21 over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, with several senior Congress leaders expected to participate.

The protest march will begin from Freedom Park at 11 am and proceed towards Raj Bhavan, according to HS Manjunath, President of the Congress Youth Unit.

Speaking toon Sunday, Manjunath alleged that the Centre had failed to take responsibility in the alleged paper leak case and said the agitation was being organised in support of students affected by the controversy.

"Regarding the failures of the central government, we have organised a youth movement this month on the 21st, Thursday at 11:00 AM. It will begin at Freedom Park, followed by a 'Raj Bhavan Chalo' (march to the Raj Bhavan). The primary reason is the NEET exam paper leak involving the BJP and its followers. Condemning this, the Youth Congress stands in support of the 24 lakh students. The central government is not taking responsibility. They aren't even committing to punishing the culprits. They are merely making false claims about involving the CBI without ensuring actual accountability," he told ANI.

He further said that students had suffered emotional and financial stress because of the controversy surrounding the examination.

"Students who worked day and night didn't receive fair results and are now being told to retake the exam. Many students struggle financially, and some even take loans for their studies. Manmohan Singh's vision was that students from villages and cities like Delhi should have the same opportunities and the same examination paper. This uniform system was intended to produce skilled doctors for the country and the world," he said.

Manjunath also demanded that no re-examination be held in states where no alleged paper leak incidents had been reported.

"Furthermore, in states like ours where no paper leak occurred, affecting approximately 1,70,000 students, we demand that there be no re-examination and that results be released as they are. We strongly urge that re-exams should not be conducted in states unaffected by the leak," he added.

On participation in the protest, Manjunath said several senior Congress leaders and office bearers would join the march.

"Our National President, Uday Bhanu Chib, will be present. Additionally, AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala will participate, along with the Deputy Chief Minister (DCM), our office bearers, in-charge Nigam Bhandari, and various other ministers. Key leaders like Krishna Byre Gowda, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Rizwan Arshad, and Basanagouda Badarli will also take part. A large number of students, women, and youth are expected to join this protest," he said.

The protest comes amid growing controversy surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination after allegations of a paper leak and the subsequent cancellation of the exam.

The re-examination is scheduled to be held on June 21. As a corrective measure, the Union Education Minister has announced that NEET-UG will be conducted in computer-based test (CBT) mode from next year.

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