NEET Paper Leak Sparks Congress Protest Outside Shimla BJP Office Raising Political Tensions

Shimla : Political turmoil in Himachal Pradesh intensified as opposition Congress leaders and youth workers staged a energetic protest outside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters in Shimla. The agitation focused on the growing NEET-UG exam paper leak controversy, with demonstrators demanding immediate systemic reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Chanting slogans against the central administration and the National Testing Agency (NTA), Congress activists marched through Shimla's city center before converging outside the BJP headquarters. Protesters carried posters highlighting the uncertainty faced by thousands of medical aspirants across the nation. Senior Congress office-bearers addressing the crowd stated that widespread examination irregularities have severely compromised the credibility of national selection processes, demanding strict legal action against those responsible.

In a quick rebuttal, the Himachal Pradesh BJP leadership sharply condemned the protest, categorizing the opposition action as "politics of anarchy." BJP leaders accused the Congress party of intentionally politicizing a sensitive student concern to generate public disruption and score political points. They emphasized that the central government has already entrusted the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and introduced stringent anti-paper leak legislation to safeguard future examinations.

To prevent clashes, the state administration deployed heavy police security around the BJP state office building. Barricades were erected along main access routes, leading to brief standoffs between security personnel and marching activists trying to push closer to the complex. Despite the high tension, police managed to keep the situation under control. Congress leaders reiterated their intent to continue statewide protests until concrete policy guarantees are provided, while BJP representatives urged all political parties to allow investigative agencies to complete their work.