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PoliticsBallari students protest police removal of Sonam Wangchuk, demand abolition of NTA
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Members of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) staged a protest in Ballari, Karnataka, on July 18, 2026, condemning the Delhi police's forced removal of educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk and other fasting protesters. The demonstrators demanded immediate democratic talks between the Union government and the protesters. AIDSO district president K. Eranna alleged that repeated irregularities in examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), including NEET-UG, have jeopardized the future of lakhs of students. The protesters also called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the abolition of the NTA. AIDSO district secretary Kambali Manjunath criticized the police action as undemocratic and authoritarian, urging the government to stop suppressing dissent and engage in dialogue.
Source report
Updated - July 18, 2026 06:30 pm IST — KALABURAGI
The Hindu Bureau
Members of the All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) staged a protest near OPD Circle in Ballari on Saturday (July 18), condemning the alleged forced removal of educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk and other fasting protesters by the Delhi police. The demonstrators also demanded that the Union government immediately initiate democratic talks with the protesters.
AIDSO district president K. Eranna alleged that repeated irregularities in examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), including NEET-UG, had jeopardised the future of lakhs of students across the country. Referring to the nation-wide protests seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, he said the ongoing hunger strike led by Sonam Wangchuk had entered its 20th day and that the government’s failure to engage in dialogue reflected an anti-democratic attitude.
He criticised the police action in removing Mr. Wangchuk and other fasting protesters without holding discussions, and termed it undemocratic and authoritarian.
AIDSO district secretary Kambali Manjunath said it was the duty of a democratic government to listen to the grievances of the people instead of resorting to repression. The forced removal of Mr. Wangchuk from the protest site, he said, amounted to a betrayal of democratic values and reflected an inhumane approach towards citizens exercising their democratic rights.
He urged students and the public to strengthen the ongoing movement and called upon the government to stop suppressing dissenting voices and immediately begin discussions with Mr. Wangchuk and the other protesters.
Key Demands of the Protesters
- Immediate democratic talks between the Centre and Sonam Wangchuk and the fasting protesters
- Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities
- Abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA)
Published - July 18, 2026 06:29 pm IST
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