NEET Protest Draws Global Support As Rallies Back Sonam Wangchuk

The controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in the NEET examination has expanded beyond India’s borders, with solidarity protests taking place in several international cities in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose prolonged hunger strike has become a focal point of the movement demanding greater accountability and transparency in the country’s examination system.

Members of the US-based advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights organised demonstrations at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in New York City’s Union Square and in San Jose on Monday evening. Protesters carried placards expressing support for Wangchuk while demanding transparency in the handling of the NEET controversy and calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The demonstrations also spread to Europe, with similar protests held outside the Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Embassy in Dublin, according to a statement issued by the organisation on Tuesday.

Worldwide protests in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk

The advocacy group said the demonstrations were aimed at amplifying the concerns of students and urging the Indian government to engage with them through dialogue rather than confrontation.

“Our protests sent a clear message — whether in New York or London, San Jose or Dublin — India’s students deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity,” the organisation said.

It further called on the government to initiate reforms while addressing concerns surrounding the examination process.

“India’s youth deserve honest answers and a future they can trust,” the statement added, while urging “dialogue, reform and accountability.”

The international demonstrations come as Wangchuk’s health continues to be closely monitored. After remaining on a hunger strike for more than three weeks, the activist’s condition reportedly deteriorated on Saturday, prompting Delhi Police to shift him from the protest site at Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital.

Following directions from the Delhi High Court, Wangchuk was later transferred to a private hospital, where he continues to receive treatment.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties have stepped up pressure on the Centre by extending support to the protesters and organising demonstrations in Delhi over the handling of the NEET controversy.

As the agitation gathers momentum both within India and overseas, calls for transparency, accountability and reforms in the examination system continue to gain wider support.

Metro station closures hit commuters across Delhi

The ongoing protests also disrupted daily life in the national capital after the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) temporarily shut 16 Metro stations on Wednesday citing security concerns linked to the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.

While announcing the closures, the DMRC clarified that interchange facilities would continue to remain operational at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat.

The shutdown comes just two days after multiple Metro stations were closed on Monday when thousands of protesters attempted to march towards Parliament in response to the CJP’s call for action over alleged examination irregularities.

For many commuters, Wednesday’s restrictions marked the second major disruption within a week, affecting office-goers, students and daily passengers travelling through central Delhi.

Passengers reported that Metro services continued to run on several corridors, but trains did not halt at the closed stations, forcing commuters to travel beyond their destinations before returning by road. Many said the diversions significantly increased travel time during the morning rush hour, adding to the inconvenience caused by the ongoing security measures around the protest sites.