Hyderabad: As evening traffic crawled past Hyderabad’s Necklace Road and Lower Tank Bund, the sound of slogans gradually gave way to songs. At the Ambedkar statue near Lower Tank Bund on Saturday evening, around 100-150 people gathered for ‘Voices of Dissent’, a cultural protest organised by the Arunodaya Cultural Federation (ACF) and the Babasaheb Ambedkar Reading Circle (BARC) as part of the continuing agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak.Standing near the Ambedkar statue, participants sang protest songs, recited poetry, displayed posters and even performed a reworked version of the Italian anti-fascist anthem ‘Bella Ciao’, with lyrics adapted to reflect the ongoing student movement. As Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan tendered his resignation, the atmosphere was celebratory yet resolute, with many calling the move only the beginning of a longer fight for accountability.
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“Resignation is the first step, but we need accountability,” one protester said. For 23-year-old student Abhishek Shekhawat, the issue extended beyond a single examination. “In my home state Rajasthan too, several examination papers have been leaked. We now need stronger checks and balances so students don’t continue paying the price,” she said.Amit Ratna of the BARC said the event deliberately chose culture as its mode of resistance. “Through art, we wanted to express dissent. Even the Ambedkarite movement has always found different ways to resist, and songs have been one of them,” he said. Kavya (25), who works in the education policy sector, argued that the controversy reflected deeper institutional problems. “This isn’t just about NEET. Students repeatedly bear the brunt of administrative failures while accountability remains absent. The recent resignation is a step in the right direction, but it is far from the destination,” she said.Many also criticised the branding of young protesters as “anti-national”, saying the movement cut across political ideologies and social backgrounds. Several participants highlighted that social media, particularly Instagram, had helped mobilise young people despite concerns over possible crackdowns.Meanwhile, Telangana CJP members called the resignation “a victory for the 36-day people’s struggle.” “Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is a victory for the students, youth, parents, social activists and every Indian who stood in support of the 36-day movement at Jantar Mantar. Despite scorching heat, rain, police restrictions, arrests and lathi-charges, protesters remained steadfast. This victory belongs to the collective strength of the people. Govts must work honestly and remain accountable to the public, because those who ignore or suppress people’s voices will ultimately face the people’s verdict,” said Vijay Mallangi, Telangana CJP member.“Youth from across the country stood united in this movement, proving that students can bring about change when they fight peacefully for their future. The youth should never be underestimated. When young people raise questions, govts are compelled to answer, and this victory stands as proof of the power of democratic and collective action,” said Ruchith, a CJP member. As dusk settled over the city, the songs continued, drawing curious onlookers. “I was passing by after work and stopped because of the music. At first I thought it was a cultural programme, but then I realised they were singing about the NEET issue. It’s a different way of protesting,” said Rahul (32), a software professional.
