CJP protests: Which Indian sports stars have reacted to student agitation?

· Yahoo Sports

Several sporting icons have broken their usual silence to back the ongoing student agitation, as the demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET-UG paper leak spirals into a nationwide flashpoint.

What began as a student-led movement has now drawn support from beyond politics, with cricketers, shooters, boxers and footballers weighing in publicly.

Visit arroznegro.club for more information.

For almost a month, demonstrators, led by Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), have occupied stretches of Central Delhi, pushing for reforms in the education system.

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Reports emerged of police using batons and tear gas against protesters on July 20, the day a march toward Parliament had been planned.

Which Indian sports stars have reacted to student agitation

Yuvraj Singh and Shikhar Dhawan were among the first voices from cricket to weigh in, both appealing for restraint and continued trust in the system as tensions simmered.

“To every child, student, woman and man: you deserve the opportunity to learn in peace, grow with safety, and chase your dreams," Yuvraj wrote.

"Your well-being is the foundation of a brighter India. Let's come together to build communities of care, opportunity and hope. Through dialogue, we can find an amicable solution for the sake of India's future."

Meanwhile, Dhawan said: "It is essential to understand their dreams, but at the same time, it is equally important to maintain patience in difficult times and keep faith in the country’s institutions and government.

"I believe that the solution to every challenge emerges with patience. India has always moved forward and will continue to progress."

Former India fielder Mohammad Kaif also spoke out, saying watching students face police action over exam-related grievances left him disturbed as a parent.

“As a father it pains me to see students being roughed up by police for protesting over flaws in education. Kids getting beaten with lathis on the streets of Delhi should stop. I hope a solution comes up very soon,” he wrote on X. 

Olympians and champions lend voice

Abhinav Bindra, India's first individual Olympic gold winner, took to social media and expressed hope that the country could work collectively toward a stronger schooling system for future generations.

“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,” Bindra posted on X.

“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.

“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,"

Double Olympic medallist shooter Manu Bhaker echoed a similar sentiment, and wrote: "At this point, it’s about the lives of the future of our nation. It’s about us. I am a student, and at one point, we all were students.

"Every child deserves access to education, safety, and a fair chance at life. These are not privileges; they are fundamental rights. The students and children who lost their lives were meant to be the future of our country. Their dreams, their potential, and their futures should have been protected.

"It is about speaking up for what truly matters: education, the environment, safety, and accountability. These issues affect every one of us, regardless of our beliefs. I take immense pride in representing my country. That is why it is deeply heartbreaking to see the students suffer like this.”

Boxing great Nikhat Zareen urged authorities to listen to the young demonstrators before it was too late. 

“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,” she wrote in an X post.

Whereas, footballer Sahal Abdul Samad also voiced support and condemned that a peaceful gathering of young people asking to be heard was instead being met with force.

“These are young people who came peacefully, asking to be heard, and they are being answered with force. Nothing justifies lathis on a generation that brought nothing but its voice," he wrote on Facebook.

"Whatever anyone thinks of the issue behind the protest, this cannot be the response to it. I stand with them. Not quietly, and not from a distance. Their voices deserve a seat at the table, not a barricade in front of it.”

Read full story at source