Jammu: Veteran Congress leader and former Sadr-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Karan Singh, on Friday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene effectively in the ongoing student protests over the NEET paper leak issue, saying that protesting youth should feel they are being heard at the highest level.
In a statement, Singh said the situation could have been avoided if the concerned minister had offered to resign after the NEET controversy.
“As a PhD student myself and also as former chancellor of four universities, I have deep concern for the welfare of students around the country,” he said.
Singh said police action was not a solution to address the larger concerns of students and called for dialogue and reforms in the education system.
“I would appeal to the Prime Minister, even at this late hour, to intervene effectively so that the students feel that they are being listened to at the highest level. Police action, harsh as it invariably is, is not the solution to the broader problem that faces the nation,” he said.
He suggested that the issue required wider educational reforms, including possible restructuring of the education system under a new education commission.
The former Union minister also expressed relief over climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his hunger strike after 26 days and conveyed sympathy to students and police personnel injured during recent protests in Delhi.
The protests have intensified following allegations of irregularities and paper leaks in competitive examinations, with students demanding accountability, resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, educational reforms and compensation for families affected by the controversy.
Meanwhile, a student-led protest supporting Sonam Wangchuk and demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister was held at Bahu Plaza in Jammu on Friday.
The protest witnessed participation of around 150 students and youth before concluding peacefully in the evening.
PDP leader Varinder Singh Sonu joined the protesters and said the agitation was not politically motivated. He urged the Union Education Minister to resign, saying the concerns of the youth must be addressed.
“The youth are the future of the nation and their concerns should be resolved through dialogue,” Sonu said.
He also condemned the alleged use of force against protesting students and called for a peaceful resolution of the issue.
The protesters later sang the National Anthem before dispersing at around 7 pm. Officials said no untoward incident was reported.
Meanwhile, the Jammu Province Bachao Manch (JBM) sent a five-member delegation from Jammu to participate in the protest at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, in solidarity with students.
The delegation, led by JBM Vice Chairman Satish Poonchi, was flagged off by JBM Chairman and former legislator Ashok Sharma.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashok Sharma urged the Union Government to initiate dialogue with protesting students and find a permanent solution to concerns related to examination paper leaks.
He said repeated incidents of paper leaks had affected the aspirations of the younger generation and stressed the need for a transparent and foolproof mechanism for recruitment and competitive examinations.
The flag-off ceremony was attended by former MLC M.S. Qureshi, Chief Spokesperson Kuldip Sharma, former District and Sessions Judge K.Y.S. Manhas, former IFS officer Capt Lalit Kumar Sharma, Ajit Singh, President of All J&K Police Pensioners Association, and Kissan Sabha Chairman H.C. Jameria.
The JBM delegation is scheduled to join a token hunger strike at Jantar Mantar as part of its support for the protesting students.
