Protests in Akola over NEET ‘paper leak’

Akola: The arrest of a coaching class director by the CBI in connection with the NEET ‘paper leak' case took a political colour on Monday. The MNS and Congress staged separate protests in Akola to slam Renukai Career Centre (RCC) and its director Shivraj Motegaonkar.MNS workers, including members of its student wing, reached two branches of the coaching institute and blackened RCC signboards, raised slogans, and later tore them down. They alleged that the institute had compromised the future of nearly 22 lakh aspirants nationwide.The party warned that such coaching centres would not be allowed in the city and demanded that fees of all newly admitted students be refunded within eight days, failing which the agitation would be intensified.The Cong, led by Akola West MLA Sajid Khan Pathan, staged a protest near the collector's office. Demonstrators raised slogans against the Union govt and accused it of corruption across sectors, including education.The Cong alleged that the NEET paper leak was indicative of systemic failure. The protesters burnt effigies and posters of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demanded strict action against those involved apart from comprehensive reforms in the exam system.