Defying curbs, protesters hit streets across country; 125 students detained outside Gujarat varsity | Chennai News

CHENNAI/INDORE: Students and people from across society joined protests in multiple cities Wednesday, demanding accountability over examination irregularities and Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation — defying police curbs, preventive detentions and heavy deployment.In Ahmedabad, police detained nearly 125 student protesters outside Gujarat University. Protests also spread through Hyderabad, Patiala and Haryana’s Bhiwani. In Chennai, hundreds of students and young professionals gathered at CPI’s Tamil Nadu headquarters to express solidarity with protesters in New Delhi. Some came in medical scrubs. Some in T-shirts and jeans. Those in formal wear removed their ID cards before joining the crowd. Placards read: “Abolish NEET”, “Accountability Missing”. At IIT Madras, 200 students protested on their campus.Indore’s agitation entered its 23rd day as thousands assembled at Tantya Bhil Square in Bhawarkuan, one of central India’s largest education hubs. Protesters announced a July 23 “Yuva Nyay Yatra” to widen support for their campaign. Student Zainab said: “This is no longer just about NEET. It is about restoring faith in the education system.”Hyderabad saw its second straight day of protests as students gathered at Osmania University.Peaceful protests were held at Patiala’s Fountain Chowk, while students in Haryana’s Bhiwani organised a Tricolour march and announced an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.(With inputs from Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Patiala, Bhiwani)