Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 24 (ANI): Senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar on Friday alleged that forces within the country and abroad were behind the ongoing protests by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), claiming that they do not want India to become a 'developed, strong and educated nation'.

Speaking about the ongoing protests over the NEET issue, Kumar said that Opposition parties had initially raised the matter of the examination but later 'strayed' and started pursuing their own politics.

'The situation is such that there is an attempt to ruin the era of positive politics within the country. Opposition parties took the name of NEET, but they strayed and started playing their own politics,' Kumar told ANI.

He alleged that forces both within India and globally were working against the country's development.

'I would like to say to the youth coming there that one thing must have become clear by now: behind these protests are those forces, both within the country and globally, that do not want India to become a developed, strong, and educated nation. Instead, they want to destroy India,' he said.

Kumar urged the youth participating in the protests to adopt 'positive values' and contribute to the country's progress, saying India was emerging as a role model for the world through its development and startup ecosystem.

'Today, through thousands and lakhs of startups, India is emerging as a role model for the entire world. Everyone should cooperate with the government in building this role model. Play your role independently and positively so that the coming generations learn how--even when global powers were trying to break India's development, education, prosperity, happiness, peace, and harmony--these were the people and these were the youth who played their roles,' he said.

'If you can't do any good, then at least don't destroy. If you can't see others doing well, then don't try to ruin it. This is unfortunate and should not be done,' the RSS leader added.

Kumar also called upon the youth to draw inspiration from freedom fighters and national leaders, including Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose, VD Savarkar, Banerjee and Syama Prasad Mukherjee, and work towards building the country.

His remarks came amid continued protests by Opposition parties and CJP in Parliament and at Jantar Mantar over the NEET issue and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The CJP has said that its protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Pradhan resigns. Its representative Ashutosh Ranka on Friday said that the hunger strike by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had ended following assurances from the government, but the core demand for the Education Minister's resignation remained unchanged.

Meanwhile, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said the government's decision to hold day-to-day hearings through specially designated fast-track courts in paper leak cases would ensure speedy trials and timely justice for the youth.

Earlier, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav criticised the Opposition for adopting an 'aggressive stance' over the NEET issue and urged it to engage in dialogue in Parliament instead of indulging in 'unnecessary politics'. (ANI)