29 Jun. 24: The Students Islamic Organisation (SIO) of India has launched a series of nationwide protests, spotlighting significant issues within the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the NEET examination process. Leaders from SIO chapters in Delhi, Karnataka, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh have come together, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister and the dissolution of the NTA over allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and repeated examination failures.
In Delhi, SIO members gathered at Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with students affected by alleged irregularities in NEET and other exams. The protest emphasized the need for systemic reforms to address broader issues of exam mismanagement within the education sector.
SIO Karnataka has been particularly outspoken, calling for a re-conducting of the NEET exam, the dissolution of the NTA, and the resignation of the Education Minister. Protests were organized across the state, including in Mangalore, Udupi, Ullal, Bidar, Basava Kalyan, Manvi, Ilkal, and Tumkur. SIO Karnataka president criticized the Education Minister for denying the existence of a scam despite widespread reports of question paper leaks. The protests also addressed concerns about exam integrity and the influence of coaching mafias.
In West Bengal, SIO held a protest at College Square, Kolkata. Protestors condemned the NTA’s failures, citing frequent leaks and abrupt cancellations of exams like NEET-PG and CSIR-NET. They demanded an impartial inquiry into corruption allegations and called for the abolition of the NTA. State President Syed Mamun emphasized the detrimental impact of centralizing the education system and announced plans for a large-scale movement to safeguard students’ rights.
SIO Andhra Pradesh joined the nationwide movement with a protest at Dharna Chowk, Vijayawada. Echoing the demands of their counterparts in other states, protestors called for the resignation of the Education Minister, the dissolution of the NTA, and the re-conducting of the NEET exam.
In Tamil Nadu, SIO organized protests in Coimbatore and Trichy, condemning the irregularities in NEET and NET exams. The protests called for the dissolution of the NTA and the resignation of the Union Education Minister.
SIO India’s coordinated protests across various states underscore widespread dissatisfaction with the current examination system managed by the NTA. The organization’s demands for accountability and systemic reform highlight the urgent need to address the grievances of millions of students across the country.
