Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the central government Saturday after authorities shut several Delhi Metro stations during protests over an alleged NEET paper leak.

The crackdown highlights growing tensions between the government and students. The closure of public transit in the capital disrupts thousands of commuters while signaling the state's intent to prevent large-scale gatherings near government hubs.

Security measures focused on central Delhi, specifically targeting stations around Jantar Mantar. On Friday, 17 stations remained closed starting at 7:30 a.m. [2]. These restrictions were part of a broader effort to manage protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) regarding the alleged exam leaks [2].

Reports on the scale of the closures varied slightly. One report stated that authorities shut 18 Delhi Metro stations [1], while another confirmed 17 stations were closed on Friday [2]. These curbs continued for three straight days as security concerns persisted in the area [2].

Gandhi targeted the government's priorities, suggesting that the administration is more effective at restricting movement than preventing academic fraud. He focused on the contrast between the efficiency of the security crackdown and the failure to secure national exams.

"Shut metro, roads, food... but not paper leaks," Gandhi said [1].

The protests continue to center on the integrity of the NEET exams. The CJP and other demonstrators have demanded greater accountability, and a thorough investigation into how the alleged leaks occurred, while the government maintains that the security measures are necessary to preserve public order.

“"Shut metro, roads, food... but not paper leaks,"”

The shutdown of key transit arteries in Delhi reflects a strategy of containment to prevent protest escalation. By restricting access to Jantar Mantar, the government aims to limit the visibility of the NEET leak controversy, while the political opposition uses the disruption to frame the administration as authoritarian and incapable of protecting the meritocracy of national exams.