The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold a major protest in Lucknow on Wednesday against the Congress, condemning what it described as the party's "ruckus" outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official residence and at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The demonstration is part of a nationwide campaign launched by the BJP in response to the Congress-led protest over the alleged NEET paper leak and police action against student protesters.
The protest in Lucknow is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm outside the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) office and will be led by BJP Uttar Pradesh president Pankaj Chaudhary. Party workers from Lucknow and nearby districts are expected to participate in large numbers. BJP leaders have accused the Congress of violating democratic norms by staging a protest in the high-security zone near the Prime Minister's residence instead of raising the issue through parliamentary debate.
The political confrontation follows Tuesday's protest in New Delhi, where Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, marched from Rajaji Marg towards Lok Kalyan Marg demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak, action against the police crackdown on student protesters, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest was stopped by Delhi Police, and several opposition leaders were briefly detained.
Reacting to the incident, BJP leaders accused the Congress of engaging in "anarchistic politics" and attempting to create political confrontation. The party announced protests outside Congress offices across the country, arguing that the Opposition's demonstration at the Prime Minister's residence breached security protocols and was intended to gain political mileage rather than address students' concerns.
The Congress, however, has defended its protest as a peaceful demonstration in support of students and has continued to demand the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that the Centre has failed to ensure the integrity of the examination system. The alleged NEET paper leak and the police response to protests have emerged as the principal flashpoints of the ongoing Monsoon Session, with repeated disruptions in Parliament and escalating political exchanges between the ruling BJP and the Opposition.
