PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday warned of a statewide agitation from July 30 if cases registered against students who participated in protests over alleged NEET examination irregularities were not withdrawn.Addressing a roadshow in Patna, Yadav said the Bihar government had issued a press release regarding the withdrawal of cases.He further said that the required executive order had not yet been communicated to district officials, creating legal hurdles in the release of detained students.He said families of the students remained distressed as several protesters had not yet been released and the cases against them were still pending.“I have received information that many family members are still distressed and disappointed that the students have not yet been released. The cases have not been withdrawn so far,” Yadav said, according to news agency ANI.Warning the state government of a larger agitation, he said that if the students were not released and the cases were not withdrawn by 7pm on Wednesday, protests would begin across Bihar from 7am on July 30.In a social media post, Yadav accused the NDA government in Bihar of being “anti-student” and alleged that the delay in issuing the executive order was obstructing the release of the students.“If the anti-student, inept NDA government of Bihar does not release the students by 7pm tomorrow evening, then the day after tomorrow morning, we will launch the ‘Halla Bol Movement’ to secure their release,” he said.Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) demanded that the BJP-led Maharashtra government withdraw all FIRs and notices issued against protesters who participated in demonstrations over the alleged NEET irregularities and the resignation of former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.In a statement, the party also alleged that social media users were receiving takedown notices over posts and reels expressing their views on the issue.Shiv Sena (UBT) said it would provide legal assistance to protesters facing criminal cases and pursue matters related to allegations of excessive force by police during the demonstrations.The party also urged the Maharashtra government to address allegations concerning an MH-CET paper leak, noting that admissions based on the entrance examination were scheduled to begin on Wednesday.Referring to student leader Neha Bora’s visit to Patna, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said criminal cases had been registered against students in several states, including Bihar, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.The developments come amid continuing demands from opposition parties and student groups for the withdrawal of cases registered against protesters following demonstrations over alleged examination irregularities.(With agency inputs)
