Paswan Urges Dialogue, Says Student Sentiments Must Be Respected Amid NEET Protest

Union Minister Chirag Paswan, who also chairs the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), stepped onto the media circuit on Tuesday and made it clear that the government is not out to silence the voices of the students chanting against the NEET‑UG 2026 paper leak. He said, in his own words, that he “respect[s] the sentiments of the students,” and that trying to muzzle them would be the wrong call.

The backdrop to his remarks is a swirling protest that began after the alleged leak of the NEET paper. A delegation from the protesting CJP met with Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and other concessions. Paswan, while supporting the idea of dialogue, warned that “if limits are crossed and law and order is obstructed, then some stringent actions are taken,” a nuance that shows he’s walking a tightrope between empathy and order.

“Dialogue is a good medium,” he added, noting that the government’s door has always been open. He recalled the meeting between the CJP delegation and Nadda, describing it as “cordial” and emphasizing that the students, after all, are “the future of our country.” A little pause here—yes, it sounds like a standard line, but Paswan seemed genuinely intent on underscoring the point.

The protest itself took a darker turn on Monday when a march toward Parliament turned violent. Delhi Police reported that more than a hundred officers were injured, and about sixty protesters also sustained injuries. According to the police, stones were hurled and barricades breached, leading to FIRs against unidentified offenders. Meanwhile, CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke accused the police of “brutality and cruelty,” claiming that students were beaten during the crackdown. The clash even affected the hunger strike of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who reportedly chose to continue his fast after witnessing the police response.

In the broader political arena, Paswan referenced the recent NDA parliamentary meet, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about guiding the youth correctly and highlighted achievements of young Indians on the global stage. “We should respect their sentiments,” Paswan repeated, tying the current unrest back to a larger vision of youth empowerment.

So, where does this leave the NEET protest? The CJP has insisted that their sit‑in will continue until Pradhan steps down, while the government maintains that talks are ongoing and that law‑enforcement will act only if things spiral further out of control. For now, the call for dialogue rings louder than ever, and all eyes are on the next round of meetings between student leaders and officials.