Here are some of the student-led protests of 2022 (representative/file)
From Chandigarh University to Haryana MBBS bond policy, as the end of the year draws to a close, we have shortlisted a number of protests that attracted attention across the country throughout the year
In 2022, India saw several major protests on various issues including protests against MBBS bond policy of Haryana government, discrepancies in FAA selection list, for additional attempts for NEET, JEE and CUET aspirants among others, over discontinuation from Maulana Azad National Fellowship.
As the end of the year draws to a close, we’ve shortlisted a number of protests that attracted attention across the country throughout the year.
Postponement of NEET 2022
After months of protests, medical aspirants went on a hunger strike demanding a postponement of the NEET 2022. Aspirants sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi claiming that they had been rejected by everyone else and wanted the prime minister to hear their grievances. A large portion of the students tweeted with the hashtag “Chalo Modi Awas,” which can be translated as “let’s go to Modi’s residence,” claiming to start a march towards the Prime Minister’s residence.
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Students demanded a 40-day postponement of the medical entrance exam, claiming that there was not enough time to prepare. Furthermore, they also claim that NEET clashes with other entrance exams including CUET. Students protested online, launched several online campaigns and wrote letters to ministers in recent months.
JNU, JMI students protest cancellation of Maulana Azad National Fellowship
Students from many universities, including Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University, staged a protest outside the Ministry of Education against the centre’s discontinuation of the Maulana Azad National Fellowship for minority students. A number of students gathered outside the Shashtri Bhawan and held banners and slogans against the centre. They were detained by the police and taken to Mandir Marg police station. The All India Students Union (AISA) said the cessation of the fellowship will have serious consequences for a portion of the students who wanted to go for higher studies.
Black Ribbon protest against Haryana MBBS bond policy
The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) announced a nationwide black ribbon protest against bond policies in medical colleges on Nov. 7. MBBS aspirants in Haryana were asked to sign a bond policy demanding Rs 10 lakh per annum from the course along with entrance fees. The local doctors protested against the increase in fees in Haryana government’s medical colleges. Several resident doctors had previously protested the policy in Haryana, but they claimed police fired water cannons and violently dragged and assaulted the protesting doctors. FORDA called the incident “barbaric and highly reprehensible”.
Protest against technical glitches in CUET, JEE NEET
After repeated technical difficulties in entrance exams including NEET, JEE and CUET, students launched a joint protest against the National Testing Agency (NTA) exam operator. A large portion of the students marched towards Jantar Mantar in Delhi, while others showed their support online by tweeting with the hashtag #ChaloJantarMantar.
Protest JKSSB Aspirant over discrepancies in FAA roster list
Aspirants selected as Finance Account Assistants (FAA) had taken to the streets to protest the blocking of the list by the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board. Officials suspected there were differences in the selection. The move to put the final list on hold had hurt the 972 shortlisted candidates. The aspirants organized protests and also wanted action taken against officials of the Jammu & Kashmir Service Selection Board (JKSSB) for failing to pass clean exams. “Officials on the jury should be investigated,” the protesters said.
Agnipath protests
A day after the government unveiled Agnipath, a radical recruitment plan for the armed forces, protests erupted across India. The opposition claimed that the Modi government’s Agnipath plan reduces the operational effectiveness of the Indian armed forces. One person died and more than 15 people were injured in Telangana’s Secunderabad as protests against the Agneepath plan intensified. the unrest spread to the southern states after Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Protest from Chandigarh University
Chandigarh University students protested after alleged ‘leaked offensive videos’ of female students went viral. Students allege that as many as eight girls have attempted suicide and about 60 female students have been victims of inappropriate and non-consensual videos that were recorded and distributed. However, the police and university administration denied any suicide. Students claimed to have caught the girl red-handed and then brought the matter to the attention of the principal, who allegedly mishandled the matter. Seditious girls have also accused the university administration of suppressing the case rather than taking action, leading many to protest outside the university.
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