NEET Protests: India’s Top Athletes Call for Dialogue, Urge Protection of Student Rights

Days of nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak have drawn reactions from India’s prominent athletes, including Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, boxer Nikhat Zareen, cricketer Yuvraj Singh, and double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker. The protesters, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accountability for the leak. A march to Parliament on July 20 turned violent.

Abhinav Bindra, without directly referencing the protests, said: “I have never considered myself a political person. But I do believe that some issues belong to all of us, regardless of where we stand. Education is one of them. … I hope we can all unite and work together to continually strengthen our education system.”

Nikhat Zareen urged the government to listen, writing on X: “Students are the future. Listen before they stop speaking. Nations don’t grow by silencing questions. They grow by answering them. Dialogue safeguards tomorrow. That is democracy.”

Yuvraj Singh on Instagram Stories called for dialogue, saying: “To every child, student, woman and man: you deserve the opportunity to learn in peace, grow with safety and chase your dreams. … Through dialogue we can find an amicable solution for the sake of India’s future.”

Manu Bhaker earlier posted: “At this point, it’s about the lives of the future of our nation. … The students and children who lost their lives were meant to be the future of our country. … This is not about promoting or opposing any political party. It is about speaking up for what truly matters—education, the environment, safety, and accountability.”