Youth protests demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak have intensified.
When dialogue fails, protest becomes inevitable.
In a democracy, protest is often the only language left once institutions stop listening, explains Ramesh Menon.
At the end of this journey, no matter now it ends, these youngsters will know something essential about the Indian government, the Indian judiciary, the Indian media, the Indian police, the Indian laws and indeed about Indian society, asserts Aakar Patel.
When humour combines with a good cause.
I don't understand how someone so deeply moral can watch young people gather at Jantar Mantar, demanding accountability after another devastating NEET paper leak, and not ask why they have reached that point. I don't understand how Sonam Wangchuk has to sit on a hunger strike to make the country listen. I don't understand how students asking for responsibility from those entrusted with their futures are met with force instead of answers.
'They were hitting students. They are not just students, they are the youth, they are the future. You cannot destroy our future.' LGBTQIA+ activist and makeup artiste Jaanmoni Das, who participated in the youth protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, recounts her experience on The Rediff Podcast.
Voters who exercise their franchise in favour of a particular political dispensation do not do so unconditionally. Their loyalty is subject to maintaining trust and living up to their expectations. It is subject to allowing the freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, points out Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).
What was it like to be at the 2026 Delhi and Mumbai protests? Harsh Patel, 29, shares his first-hand experience of the Jantar Mantar march, the NEET paper leak protests, police action and why the movement gave him hope.
'Whatever is happening is wrong. Why is the government sleeping? This is wrong.'
In times when celebrities rarely show a semblance of a spine, Ritika Sajdeh and Devisha Shetty have showed their backing for the youth protests on social media.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) recently held a three-day coordination meeting in Visakhapatnam, where senior leader C R Mukunda highlighted discussions on demographic imbalance, its impact on social harmony, recent youth protests, and underlying systemic failures. The Sangh believes these issues, including exam irregularities like NEET, point to broader administrative and institutional shortcomings that require constructive efforts from both government and society.
On camera, youngsters gave their names, where they'd come from, where they were studying or working - and then proceeded to criticize Modi. On camera, they held up posters mocking Modi, points out Jyoti Punwani.
Actors Ayesha Khan, Imran Khan, Huma Qureshi and Saqib Saleem have joined the nationwide youth protests.
Two youths from Bareilly, allegedly harassed and assaulted by an activist linked to a Hindu outfit while en route to a NEET paper leak protest in Delhi, have demanded strict legal action. The incident, captured in a viral video, has drawn condemnation from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who called for the accused's immediate arrest.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced stringent measures, including the establishment of fast-track courts, to combat exam paper leaks and protect the future of India's youth, following widespread protests over the NEET paper leak.
Young students are diverting their personal savings, originally intended for gadgets or college expenses, to fund their participation in the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar, highlighting their commitment to issues affecting their future.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday dubbed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "most anti-youth" PM in the country's history as he accused the government of not just failing the youth but also pouncing on them.
A Shiv Sena (UBT) functionary, Vikram Randhave, led an unusual protest in Nashik by releasing two puppies on a municipal chief officer's table to highlight the growing stray dog menace. Randhave claimed over 400 stray dogs and 100 monthly dog bite incidents in the area. Police have registered cases against Randhave and others for obstructing public duty and for the manner in which the dogs were handled.
Veteran Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat lauded the nation's youth as the 'force that shapes the future' following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation amidst the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy, stating that 'democracy won and fear lost'.
A Mumbai-based social media influencer has filed a complaint with Indore police, seeking an investigation into the alleged presence of minor boys and girls at a recent student protest in New Delhi. The complaint targets Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and chief spokesperson Saurav Das, among others, for facilitating minors' participation in the NEET paper leak agitation. Police are investigating the matter, which could lead to charges under POCSO, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, IT Act, and Juvenile Justice Act if cognisable offences are found.
Social media is abuzz with Gen Z protest survival tips, including how to navigate Internet shutdowns with offline maps and Bluetooth apps, and remedies for tear gas exposure, as 'cockroach movement' protesters continue their demonstrations at Jantar Mantar.
The Supreme Court has quashed all FIRs against students who participated in the Cockroach Janta Party-led protests, stating the cases should not affect their future, while the government affirmed its commitment to youth welfare.
'This accident was waiting to happen. It could have been averted if the authorities had acted in time.'
Municipal workers have repainted the graffiti-covered walls around Jantar Mantar, erasing the visual remnants of a student-led protest that led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest saw walls adorned with slogans, sketches, and messages reflecting youth anger, which have now been removed by the New Delhi Municipal Council.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, was allegedly slapped during a protest in Jaipur concerning the NEET paper leak and unemployment. Two youths have been detained following the incident, which saw protesters demanding action on youth issues and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The Supreme Court of India strongly criticised a Greater Noida executive magistrate for issuing a notice to a student who participated in a protest, despite the court's earlier order against penal action on student protesters. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed surprise at the magistrate's action and stated that an explanation would be sought. The court had previously quashed FIRs against student protesters and directed compensation for families affected by the NEET paper leak.
Union Minister J P Nadda has expressed the government's readiness for further talks with the protesting Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) regarding the NEET paper leak, offering his office or residence as venues. However, the CJP, leading protests at Jantar Mantar and demanding the Education Minister's resignation, insists on a neutral venue or the protest site itself for any future discussions, having previously rejected Nadda's invitations.
Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), emphasised the importance of young or Gen Z voices leading dialogues with youth, ahead of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's interaction with students in Mumbai. Dipke highlighted that youth protests, including those against the NEET paper leak, have compelled leaders to engage with Gen Z. He also expressed solidarity with students protesting alleged paper leaks in Jharkhand, criticising the government's handling of the issue.
'These are children of our own country; they must be heard': Param Vir Chakra Awardee Honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has launched an online petition urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address India's youth on critical issues like education, unemployment, and the rising cost of living during his Independence Day speech. This initiative follows CJP's successful 36-day agitation against NEET irregularities, which led to the resignation of the Union Education Minister. The CJP is now broadening its campaign with a nationwide "Kya Bolti Public" tour to gather youth views for a comprehensive Youth Reform Charter.
A large gathering of youth, primarily college students, convened at Shivaji Park in Mumbai to celebrate the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. This celebration followed a 36-day agitation by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesting exam irregularities and the NEET paper leak, which culminated in Pradhan's resignation. Political leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray are set to address the crowd, acknowledging the youth's role in bringing about change.
Abhijeet Dipke, convener of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has urged the BJP to align with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's stance on Gen Z protests, particularly regarding NEET examination irregularities, and to refrain from labelling protesting youth as 'anti-national'.
If the government wishes that protests like the one that took place at Jantar Mantar during the last few weeks should not recur, it must refocus its energies on jobs, not just the examination system, points out A K Bhattacharya.
The All India Students' Association (AISA) has announced its support for the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) proposed September 5 protest march in Delhi. The demonstration aims to demand the withdrawal of FIRs against students and an inquiry into alleged pellet and bullet firing during previous agitations, alongside addressing unresolved issues related to the NEET exam.
CBSE exams and unemployment are divergent concerns for the middle class and the poor, and the idioms of protest don't speak to all of India's young people, points out Kanika Datta.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday called for a protest march in Delhi on September 5, accusing the Centre of failing to honour the promises made on July 25 to convince the outfit to withdraw its 36-day agitation against examination irregularities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for forgiveness and guidance for students involved in NEET irregularity protests at Jantar Mantar, despite facing abusive language, stressing the importance of steering the youth towards the right path.
Nationwide protests against the NEET paper leak have intensified across several Indian states, with demonstrators condemning the Delhi Police crackdown and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Congress party has called for further demonstrations, while various student and political groups have organised marches and sit-ins, some leading to clashes with police.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, urging him to personally meet with student representatives protesting irregularities in state recruitment examinations. Gandhi stressed the legitimacy and peaceful nature of the students' demands, highlighting the Congress party's support for their right to protest.
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak met with students leading a "reservation reform" movement, assuring them that their demands would be presented to the BJP's central leadership and a Union minister. The movement, led by anti-reservation activists, seeks equal opportunities, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the "reform" as a plot against the PDA community, asserting the permanence of reservation rights.
