NEW DELHI: Union minister Kiren Rijiju Tuesday said PM Narendra Modi, during the NDA’s parliamentary party meeting, retierated government’s stance to ensure “stringent punishment” for those involved in the NEET paper leak.Rijiju, who is the minister of parliamentary affairs, said the Prime Minister stated that “NEET paper leak should not be an issue of partisan politics”. PM Modi, according to Rijiju, also said that “security and future of youth” is the government’s priority.The Prime Minister’s reaction comes in the backdrop of youth, led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), protesting against the perpetual paper leaks, and alleged irregularities in the education system.The uproar over the NEET leak and lack of accountablity at the senior-most level exploded in the Captial on Monday as protestors, mostly students and youths, clashed with police — leading the cops to resort to lathi charge, firing of tear gas to disperse the protesting crowd marching towards the Parliament.The protestors had three main demands: Resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, discharging Sonam Wangchuk from hospital and providing compensation to the kin of NEET aspirants who died by suicide after the leak forced the government to reexamination.
The Monday mayhem
More than 170 people, including Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters and Delhi Police personnel, were treated at central government hospitals on Monday following clashes during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, with a young woman admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in critical condition, sources said.According to hospital sources, around 150 injured people were taken to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, while at least 24 others received treatment at Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC). Many of those brought to both hospitals were discharged after receiving first aid.Officials at RML said that by 7 pm, the hospital’s surgery department had registered 65 medico-legal cases (MLCs) involving both protesters and police personnel. They added that detailed information on all cases was still being compiled.Hospital authorities also said around 10 MLCs involved people who had been on hunger strike. All of them were reported to be in stable condition.Sources at RML said nearly 40 of the injured brought to the hospital were police personnel, while the remaining patients were protesters. Around 35 people were admitted, with the rest treated and discharged. Between seven and eight patients required treatment in the hospital’s red zone because of the seriousness of their injuries.Among those admitted was a 20-year-old woman who suffered a hypoxic brain injury, a condition caused when the brain is deprived of adequate oxygen following severe trauma, hospital sources said.The exact circumstances in which she sustained her injuries remain unclear. According to hospital sources, she may have been injured during the clashes or after falling in the stampede that followed, but the sequence of events has not yet been established.Doctors said most of the remaining patients suffered bruises, baton injuries, head wounds and facial injuries, including split lips, forehead wounds and scalp lacerations. Although many had visible injuries to the head and face, no fractures were reported among patients treated at RML.At Lady Hardinge Medical College, at least 24 injured people were treated. Most were discharged after first aid, while those who arrived later in the evening continued to undergo medical evaluation. Doctors at the hospital said none of the patients brought there had sustained major injuries.
