Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala Higher Education Minister Roji M John on Friday said that the demand for resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was "totally justified."

Speaking to reporters here, John said that the central government has to be held accountable for the leak of so many question papers of exams held at the national level.

"The central government and the concerned ministry are to be held responsible for the paper leaks. That is why the protests are being held demanding the minister's resignation and a comprehensive investigation into the matter," he said.

The higher education minister said that despite the registration of several cases in connection with hundreds of instances of paper leaks over the years, no one has been convicted in them.

He also alleged that following the creation of the National Testing Agency (NTA), there have been repeated instances of paper leaks in the country and suicides by students.

"Despite all that, the central government is not only standing as a mute spectator, it is taking a stand that facilitates the criminal mafias behind the paper leaks. It is against this that a huge protest is being held in the country," the minister said.

John said the protest has the full support of the Indian National Congress and its leaders.

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He said the protests will continue till the students get justice.

Thousands of students, activists of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and leaders of opposition political parties are protesting in Delhi against the alleged irregularities in various exams, including NEET, held at the national level and demanding the resignation of Pradhan.