Kejriwal and Mann urge Centre to listen to youth protesting exam paper leaks, slam police lathi charge

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann appealed to the Centre to listen to youth protesting over exam paper leaks instead of using force. Senior AAP leaders joined the CJP-led march to Parliament demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

New Delhi: AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Monday appealed to the Centre to “listen to the youth” instead of ordering a lathi charge against protesters as thousands tried to march to Parliament as part of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

In a video message on X, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader urged the government to “drop the arrogance and listen to the youth”.

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“The entire youth of the country has gathered in lakhs at Jantar Mantar. Instead of listening to them, the government is ordering lathi charges against them. You have stopped the internet in the area; they are being stopped from going towards Parliament. This is not right,” Kejriwal said.

“I appeal to the government that these are our own country’s children who have taken to the streets demanding justice, and then you resort to a lathi charge. Drop the arrogance and listen to them,” he added.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also appealed to the Centre through a video message to heed the protesters’ demands.

Earlier in the day, AAP leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Atishi, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, joined the CJP protest in a show of solidarity.

Thousands of protesters converged on central Delhi on Monday and attempted to march towards Parliament, only to be met by police teargas and lathi-charges. The demonstrations, which began over alleged examination irregularities and paper leaks, gained traction with activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike.

On Sunday, Sisodia had urged political parties to join the July 20 march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament and demand Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities.

Addressing protesters at Jantar Mantar, where the CJP has been leading an agitation seeking reforms in the examination system, Sisodia said the issue went beyond politics.