Don Bosco Square in Laitumkhrah witnessed a large gathering on Monday as students, youth and citizens assembled in solidarity with education activist Sonam Wangchuk, demanding sweeping reforms in India’s education system. The protesters voiced four key demands—an end to examination paper leaks, greater transparency in the education system, comprehensive education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Carrying placards reading “No More Paper Leaks”, “Transparency in Education”* and “Education, Not Corruption”, the demonstrators staged a peaceful protest while singing Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Really Care About Us”*, symbolising what they described as the frustration and disappointment of students across the country. Protesters said recurring paper leaks have robbed deserving candidates of fair opportunities and weakened public confidence in competitive examinations.
“We are not here for politics; we are here for students and their future. Every paper leak destroys the dreams of thousands of aspirants. We demand accountability, transparency and meaningful reforms so that merit, not corruption, determines success. Until these demands are addressed, we will continue to raise our voices,” members of the crowd said during the protest.