Guwahati: A protest in Guwahati on Thursday over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and the demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation drew widespread attention after Dibisa Mahanta, daughter of Assam Cabinet Minister and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader Keshab Mahanta, joined the demonstration.
Photographs and videos from the protest at Chachal showed Dibisa Mahanta sitting with student activists, carrying placards and raising slogans during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led programme.
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show her raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The clips quickly spread across social media, prompting debate over her participation, while some users alleged that certain slogans were abusive towards the Prime Minister.
Her participation also attracted attention because she is the daughter of a senior minister in the BJP-led Assam government.
Large numbers of students, youths and members of civil society from Assam and other parts of the Northeast joined the programme.
Organisers said the protest supported activist Sonam Wangchuk and students protesting in New Delhi, while demanding accountability over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and reforms in the examination system.
Protesters carried placards, raised slogans against the BJP-led Union government and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.
The gathering also expressed support for students injured during the police action on the “Chalo Sansad” march in New Delhi earlier this week.
Participants called on the Centre to ensure transparency in national examinations and rebuild trust in the system.
The protest came amid a nationwide movement led by Sonam Wangchuk, who ended his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday night after talks with the Centre.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government would introduce a law providing for fast-track courts and stricter punishment in examination paper leak cases, adding that protecting students’ future remained a priority.