Sachin tendulkar commented amid NEET paper leaks protest. (Photo: X)
New Delhi: Sachin Tendulkar, the former Indian cricket legend, has given a powerful statement about the need for honesty, hard work, and merit as the protests over the claims that the NEET paper was leaked continue.
His comments were made at a time when students from all over the nation are still requesting responsibility and reforms in the education system, even though he did not specifically mention the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests or the political developments around the issue.
In a post on social media, Tendulkar recalled a lesson from his father, who was a professor and mentor to many students.
"My father was a professor. He was a mentor and guide to many young students. One lesson that he instilled early on was, 'Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts,'" the former cricketer wrote.
He said society has a collective responsibility to build a culture that values integrity over shortcuts and effort over unfair advantages.
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 23, 2026
Tendulkar noted that it is understandable for students to feel disappointed when they believe their hard work has not been rewarded. He stressed that parents, teachers, schools, administrators and society as a whole must work together to ensure that young people remain motivated.
"We must create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged, and merit wins," he said, adding that India’s youth are driven by dreams and energy that must be protected.
Tendulkar's statement comes as protests over the alleged NEET paper leak continue across the country. On Thursday, Opposition MPs from the INDIA bloc, led by Rahul Gandhi, marched to Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Gandhi Smriti after a strategy meeting on the police crackdown on protesters.
Meanwhile, the Centre reiterated that it is open to holding talks with students. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government had reached out multiple times, but discussions have not yet taken place as protesters continue to seek talks at a neutral venue near Jantar Mantar.
