Daijiworld Media Network - Pune
Pune, Jul 25: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief and former Union Minister Sharad Pawar on Saturday said he had personally met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to facilitate dialogue between the Centre and students protesting over the NEET paper leak issue, asserting that the government's subsequent actions reflected the outcome of those discussions.
Addressing a press conference, Pawar said the students' peaceful and determined movement had compelled the government to accept moral responsibility and demonstrated the strength of democratic protest.
Describing the development as a major victory for the country's youth, Pawar congratulated the students for remaining united throughout the agitation and thanked Opposition Members of Parliament for extending moral support to the protesters.
He said examination paper leaks have serious consequences for the careers and future of lakhs of students, making it essential for the government to respond with sensitivity and accountability.
Speaking about his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, Pawar said he urged the Prime Minister to open channels of communication with the protesting students, emphasising that dialogue is fundamental to a healthy democracy and that refusing to engage could have serious consequences.
According to Pawar, he also held discussions with the leaders of the student movement and advised them to respond positively if the government expressed willingness to negotiate. He said both sides ultimately agreed to engage in talks, and the results of those efforts were now visible.
Pawar maintained that the younger generation had conveyed its concerns with patience and restraint, and said constructive dialogue had helped pave the way for a resolution.
While welcoming the outcome of the protests, the veteran leader strongly criticised the manner in which law enforcement handled the demonstrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
He said the use of measures such as lathi charges and tear gas against young protesters was unnecessary and could have been avoided. According to Pawar, a more restrained approach would have been appropriate while dealing with students exercising their democratic right to protest.
Although he described the government's eventual response as positive, Pawar said the situation could have been managed more effectively had the authorities prioritised dialogue over force from the outset.
Earlier in the day, in a post on X, Pawar praised the students for sustaining their agitation at Jantar Mantar for 28 consecutive days over the alleged NEET paper leak. He described the movement as a powerful example of democratic participation and credited the youth with compelling the government to acknowledge moral responsibility through peaceful and determined protest.