Students’ disappointment is understandable: Tendulkar issues statement on NEET agitation
Cockroach Janta Party Protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on Thursday (July 23, 2026). | Photo credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Thursday (July 23, 2026) supported students protesting repeated paper leaks, saying their disappointment was understandable and it was society’s collective responsibility to ensure they “don’t feel that way anymore”.
In a post on ‘X’, Mr. Tendulkar said that his late father Ramesh Tendulkar, who was a professor, instilled certain values in him fairly early in life, the primary one being, “Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts.”
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“As adults in society, we have a responsibility to shape the culture. A society that values results over effort will look for shortcuts over meritocracy. Today, when students feel disappointed that their hard work has not been rewarded, it is understandable,” said Mr. Tendulkar.
“Together, we should all work together to make sure they don’t feel that way anymore,” he added.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 23, 2026
The protests, which began on July 20 at Jantar Mantar, turned violent and the police resorted to lathi charge on many occasions citing law and order.
The agitation is led by the Janta Cockroach Party with the support of environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast in solidarity with the students.
They are demanding the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and holding him responsible for the NEET paper leaks that recently led to retesting.
Several students have died by suicide across the country as a result of the paper leak.
Mr Tendulkar said he hoped for a solution and stressed the need to foster a culture that rewards honesty and where merit wins.
“As a society, we all, including parents, teachers, friends, relatives, schools and administrators, have a huge responsibility and different roles to play in ensuring that our youth remain encouraged and energized.”
“We need to create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged and merit wins. I am confident that we will all find solutions that will strengthen our children’s futures and protect their aspirations,” he said.
On Thursday (July 23), Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a statement saying that fast-track courts would be set up to ensure speedy trial of those accused of leaking exam papers.
Published – 23 Jul 2026 22:33 IST