Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav lead Opposition’s Black Day protest in Parliament over NEET row

Leaders of the INDIA bloc staged a coordinated protest in the Parliament complex on Wednesday, wearing black as a mark of solidarity with students protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the police action against demonstrators.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and several MPs from the Congress, Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, Left parties, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and other INDIA bloc partners took part in the demonstration.

The protest came a day after Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders were detained by Delhi Police during a protest related to the NEET controversy near Lok Kalyan Marg.

Before the demonstration, senior leaders of the INDIA bloc held a strategy meeting in the office of Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge to coordinate their protest.

Explaining the significance of the demonstration, Akhilesh Yadav said black has long symbolised both protest and grief. Congress leader Pawan Khera said Opposition MPs wore black to express support for students and to protest the government’s handling of the examination controversy and its decision to retain Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Addressing the protest, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said students were raising legitimate concerns and accused the government of failing to respond to repeated examination paper leaks. She also criticised the government’s priorities, arguing that peaceful protests should not be met with police action.

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha MP Mahua Maji said the Opposition stood united in support of students and insisted the movement was focused on securing justice rather than political gain.

Mallikarjun Kharge strongly criticised the government, accusing it of undermining democratic values and mistreating Opposition leaders and peaceful protesters. He said the Opposition would continue its campaign and would not be intimidated.

The INDIA bloc maintained that the protest was intended to draw attention to alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, repeated paper leak incidents and the police response to student demonstrations. Opposition leaders also demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, calling for greater accountability from the central government.

Black clothing has traditionally been used in India and many other countries as a symbol of protest, mourning and solidarity. Political parties and activists often wear black to express dissent and draw attention to issues of public concern.