A total of 21 people, including five juveniles and 16 adults, are currently in police custody in connection with the July 23 protest in Darbhanga over the alleged NEET paper leak and the demand for former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Police have also registered an FIR naming 30 individuals and 500 unidentified persons.
Amid the police action, Darbhanga Deputy Mayor and Congress leader Nazia Hasan issued a statement claiming she was being targeted through a “politically motivated conspiracy” and demanded that all charges against her be withdrawn after a fair investigation.
Nazia Hasan Denies Violence Allegations
Hasan said she had led the July 23 demonstration, which she described as a peaceful protest against the alleged examination paper leak and the demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
She alleged that political opponents and people associated with the BJP-RSS ideology circulated an edited video on social media to damage her image and portray her as someone who incited violence.
“They tried to project me as a rioter and someone who provoked violence so that the administration could take action against me and arrest me,” she said.
‘Truth Cannot Be Defeated’
Rejecting the allegations, Hasan maintained that she neither participated in nor encouraged any violence during the protest.
“Truth may be troubled, but it cannot be defeated. As a responsible citizen and a committed social and political worker, no force can stop me from raising the voice of the people,” she said.
She added that, as a public representative, she had worked to maintain peace and prevent unrest during the protest.
“I never committed any violence nor did I provoke anyone. Like always, I tried my best to restore peace and prevent disturbances,” Hasan said.
Calls for Fair Investigation
The Deputy Mayor urged the district administration to review its stand and conduct an impartial inquiry into the incident.
“I request the district administration to reconsider its position, conduct a fair investigation and immediately withdraw all baseless charges imposed against me,” she said.
Concluding her statement, Hasan alleged that the conspiracy against her had been exposed and described it as a setback for those attempting to spread hatred and division.
“I had said it earlier, and I repeat it today with full conviction—’Satyamev Jayate’. Truth always prevails,” she said.
