NSUI launches signature campaign over NEET row, demands justice for students

NSUI launches signature campaign over NEET row, demands justice for students

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 7, 2026: The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has launched a district-wide signature campaign across college campuses demanding justice for students affected by the alleged NEET question paper leak and the student suicide cases linked to the examination, NSUI Dakshina Kannada District President Suhan Alva said.

Addressing a press conference at the Dakshina Kannada District Congress office on Tuesday, Alva said that NSUI office-bearers from all eight Assembly constituencies in the district would collect signatures from students on postcards, which would later be submitted to the Prime Minister.

He alleged that lakhs of students across the country had suffered due to irregularities in the NEET examination and said the organisation would continue its agitation until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, taking responsibility for the controversy. He also announced that NSUI would participate in a ’Parliament Chalo’ programme scheduled for the first week of August, with representatives from Dakshina Kannada joining the protest.

Alva further said that, apart from the NEET issue, the Congress, under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, has launched the ’Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign to understand and address the problems faced by students on college campuses. Through a QR code provided by NSUI, students can directly share their grievances with national and state leaders. The campaign will continue until the end of this month, he added.

NSUI opposes discontinuation of M.Com at University College

Alva said NSUI had received complaints from professors and students that the M.Com course at University College, Hampankatta, would be discontinued from the 2026–27 academic year. He said the organisation has decided to meet the Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University to urge the administration to retain the programme.

According to him, around 40 applications have already been received for admission to the M.Com course this year, making its discontinuation unjustified. If the university fails to reconsider the decision, NSUI will submit a representation to the state government and, if necessary, launch protests.

He noted that while some courses are being discontinued due to poor enrolment, the M.Com programme has attracted sufficient applications. Shifting the course from University College, Hampankatta, to the university campus at Konaje would inconvenience many students, he said.

Alva pointed out that a large number of students travel by train from Kasaragod to study at the Hampankatta campus. Students from Surathkal, Mulki and Moodbidri also find the city campus more accessible. Therefore, NSUI strongly opposed the proposal to discontinue the M.Com course at University College.

NSUI leaders Sahil Manchil, Arshan Poojary, Mohin Kempi, Dhanush Kukkethi Sullia, Kristin Menezes, Santosh Sullia, Sujan Poojary and Zanoon were also present at the press conference.