Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asked the public not to attack Revenue Minister Keshab Mahanta after the minister's daughter joined a student protest [1].
The incident highlights the tension between political loyalty and student activism in India, as the daughter of a high-ranking government official publicly opposed state-administered processes.
Dibisa Mahanta joined a protest in Guwahati involving students who were demonstrating against alleged leaks in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) [1, 2]. The protests centered on demands for fairness, and transparency in the medical entrance examinations [2].
Chief Minister Sarma addressed the situation by distancing the minister from his daughter's political actions. He said that the choice to protest was a personal decision made by Dibisa and should not be used as a reason to target her father [1, 3].
"Don’t attack or troll Keshab Mahanta," Sarma said [1].
Despite defending the minister, Sarma noted that he did not support the specific messages being shared at the rally. He said that he intended to discuss the matter with the young woman during their next encounter [3].
"I do not agree with the slogans she raised. When I meet her next time, I will definitely talk to her about it," Sarma said [3].
Sarma further urged the public to maintain a distinction between the professional duties of the Revenue Minister and the individual choices of his family members [1].
"Don’t troll her father," Sarma said [2].
“"Don’t attack or troll Keshab Mahanta."”
This situation underscores the volatility surrounding the NEET examinations in India, where allegations of paper leaks have sparked nationwide student unrest. By publicly separating the minister's official role from his daughter's activism, Sarma is attempting to neutralize a potential political liability and prevent the government from appearing internally fractured while acknowledging the depth of student frustration.
