New Delhi, 22 July (H.S.): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at the residence of MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday. He also called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In a joint press conference held after the meeting, Kejriwal took aim at the central government over the examination system, the NEET paper leak and the nationwide youth agitation.

Kejriwal said he and Uddhav Thackeray had discussed in detail the country’s current issues and the youth’s pan-India movement. He said young people from across the country have gathered at Jantar Mantar, worried, angry and disillusioned about their future. He added that he had visited Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, after which Uddhav Thackeray also met the protesters and their representatives.

Kejriwal said there had been crowds of students from different states throughout the night at Connaught Place, Janpath and Jantar Mantar. He described them as the future of the country and said that repeated paper leaks had caused the entire examination system to completely break down.

Taking a swipe at the government, Kejriwal said fixing the education system was the government’s responsibility, but it had failed to do so. He alleged that when students raised their voices, they were met with lathi charges and brutality.

He asked why ministers can be changed repeatedly, but the education minister could not be asked to resign. He said the education minister should take moral responsibility and step down, and that concrete steps must be taken to reform the examination system. Kejriwal added that AAP would continue to support the students’ protests.

On the occasion, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray also launched a sharp attack on the central government over the NEET paper leak and the police action against protesters. He alleged that people peacefully protesting in a democratic manner were being treated harshly, calling it against democratic values. Raising questions about the government’s working style, Thackeray made pointed political remarks, saying that such harsh treatment of students was fueling public discontent. He said he would support the CJP and the students’ protests.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar