Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] staged a protest at SVP Circle in Kalaburagi on Sunday (July 19, 2026) condemning the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

The protesters burnt an effigy depicting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Pradhan and symbolically broke an earthen pot as a mark of protest against what they described as the Union Government’s “communal and fascist policies”.

Addressing the demonstrators, CPI(M) district secretary K. Neela alleged that police had forcibly removed Mr. Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the alleged NEET question paper leak. She described the police action as an attack on democratic rights and criticised the Centre for allegedly refusing to engage in dialogue with the protesters.

Ms. Neela also alleged that the Union Government had failed to ensure transparent and leak-proof examinations and claimed that the centralisation and commercialisation of education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 had contributed to examination irregularities. She demanded the resignation of Mr. Pradhan and called for the abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the NEP 2020.

Sudham Dhanni, Bhimashetty Yampalli, Pandurang, Shanta Ghanti, Chandamma Gola, Imam Saab, M.B. Sajjan, Padmini Kirangi and party leaders representing the student and youth wings participated in the agitation.