Cricketrs Sachin Tendulkar, Shubman Gill and Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra were among the prominent sportspersons to to back the students protesting against exam paper leaks and demanding the resignation of union minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest was sparked by the repeated leaks of the NEET exam paper, after which multiple student suicides were reported from across the country. Over the past couple of day, the protest has been marred by incidents of violence, with both the police and protestors accusing each other of instigating physical altercations.
“A society which prioritises outcomes over effort will seek shortcuts over meritocracy. Today, when students feel disappointed that their hard work hasn’t been rewarded, it is understandable,” Tendulkar said.
“Collectively, we should all work together towards ensuring they don’t feel this way again,” he added.
Echoing his sentiment was India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, who said he has immense respect for those protesting peacefully.
“Education has the power to shape our nation’s future. I hope we move forward with compassion, mutual respect and keeping the best interests of every student at heart,” he posted on Instagram.
India’s first individual Olympic gold-winner, shooter Abhinav Bindra, did not mention the students in his post but asserted that the education system must inspire confidence.
“The measure of a nation is found not only in its economy or its achievements, but in the opportunities it creates for its young people. An education system that inspires confidence, rewards merit and nurtures curiosity is one of a nation’s greatest strengths,” he noted.
“I hope we can all unite and work together to continually strengthen our education system, so that it remains a source of opportunity, innovation and hope for generations to come,” he went on to add.
Chess Grandmaster Nihal Sarin, cricketers Shikhar Dhawan and Irfan Pathan were the others to speak up for the students.
(With inputs from PTI)
Comments
Published on Jul 23, 2026