Cricket Stars Back Student Protests Over Exam Leaks in India

Shubman Gill, Sachin Tendulkar, and Irfan Pathan have publicly backed students protesting repeated exam paper leaks across India, adding a high-profile voice to a movement that began July 20 at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar and has since spread to Mumbai, Bihar, and other states. The protests, organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) with support from environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and systemic reforms after the NEET medical entrance exam was compromised.

Police have used lathi-charges on several occasions, citing law and order concerns. Multiple students have died by suicide in the aftermath of the leaks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Thursday that fast-track courts would be set up to speed trials of those accused of leaking papers.