Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Jul 29: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday criticised the recent student agitation over the NEET examination, stating that the protest had "stooped to the lowest intellectual level" after slogans and placards unrelated to the issue were displayed.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Goa Shiksha Samagam 2026 in Panaji, Sawant said students have every democratic right to protest, but maintained that the conduct and messaging witnessed during the agitation could not be considered representative of a genuine student movement.

Referring to placards demanding the release of activist Umar Khalid, the chief minister said such messages shifted the focus away from the original issue of the NEET examination and diluted the purpose of the protest.

Sawant stressed that while democratic expression should be respected, student protests should remain centred on issues directly affecting students and the education sector. He said movements lose credibility when unrelated political agendas become part of the campaign.

His remarks come amid continuing political debate over the NEET issue and the protests that followed across several parts of the country.