Chaos at Jantar Mantar: PM Modi Speaks on NEET Leak as Farmers Clash at Shambhu Border

Protests Escalate in Delhi

Yesterday, Jantar Mantar turned into a battleground as police lathi‑charged students and protesters demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak. Tear gas shells filled the air, and the atmosphere grew tense with chants for justice.

PM Modi’s Strong Words on NEET

Amid the uproar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the NDA parliamentary party meeting. He condemned the paper leak, promising “the strictest punishment for every individual guilty, middlemen, criminals, anyone involved.” He urged political parties not to exploit students as tools, stressing that “the future of youth is above politics.”

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed that 13 accused individuals have already been arrested, the re‑exam was successfully conducted, and the results have been declared.

Modi reassured students that the government is committed to resolving the crisis, even banning Telegram during the re‑test to curb malpractice.

Farmers Blocked at Shambhu Border

While Delhi simmered with student protests, another storm brewed at the Shambhu border. Thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh attempted to march toward Delhi for a “Kisan Mahapanchayat” under the banner of Desh Bachao Morcha.

Police erected concrete barricades, deployed thousands of personnel, and detained several farmer leaders, halting the march. Farmers accused the government of curtailing their fundamental right to peaceful protest.

The Bigger Picture: US–India Trade Fears

This fresh agitation stems from fears over a proposed US–India bilateral trade agreement. Farmer unions warn that opening India’s agriculture and dairy markets could devastate small farmers, who already struggle with low incomes, poor crop insurance, and lack of mechanization. They argue that cheap American imports- soyabeans, corn, cotton, apples, almonds, dairy products - would crush local competition.

The government, however, insists that no deal has been finalized and pledges to balance tariff reductions with the protection of sensitive domestic sectors.

A Nation at Crossroads

With students demanding justice and farmers fearing economic ruin, the government faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts. As Modi reassures the youth and police hold back farmers at the border, India watches closely: will accountability and protection prevail, or will unrest deepen?