Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has praised the youth movement on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation in the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. He said that the youth have explained the real meaning of courage. Phogat said that this struggle did not go in vain, democracy won and fear lost.
Veteran Indian wrestler and three-time Olympian Vinesh Phogat has praised the youth of the country following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy. Describing the youth as ‘the force that decides the direction of the future’, he said that ‘democracy has won and fear has been defeated.’
Pradhan, while submitting his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, had said that he wanted to ensure that ‘anti-national forces’ do not take advantage of the protests over exam irregularities.
Vinesh praised the youth movement
In a post on X, Vinesh Phogat praised the youth-led movement, saying that it reflects the soul of the country and highlights the courage of the young protesters. He said that the youth, who believed in the Constitution, emerged as the most powerful voice despite attempts to intimidate them. He wrote, “This movement told us that the soul of the country is still awake. The youth are not just a crowd, they are the force that decides the direction of the future. Those children standing on the streets taught us the true meaning of courage. Flowers in their hands, faith in the Constitution in their hearts. Those who tried to scare, emerged as the loudest voices.”
Vinesh Phogat said that the people who faced difficulties during the movement remained steadfast. He said the conflict would be remembered as a moment when people refused to remain silent. He said the result showed that “democracy won and fear lost.” He further said, “Those who were lathicharged did not lose hope. Every day will be remembered when attempts were made to suppress the demand for justice. And that generation will be remembered which refused to remain silent. The happiness is that the struggle did not go in vain. Democracy won… and fear lost.”
Nationwide protest and ‘Sansad Chalo’ march
Pradhan’s resignation comes after weeks of nationwide protests over alleged examination irregularities and a 26-day hunger strike led by Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar. The agitation was led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which is demanding accountability over the alleged paper leak.
On July 20, the group organized a ‘Sansad Chalo’ march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament, during which there were reports of lathicharge and tear gas shells being used to disperse a large crowd that had gathered in central Delhi.
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