Amid escalating tensions and widespread student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, legendary Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has appealed for peace, dialogue, and safety for students. Taking to social media, the 2011 World Cup winner shared a poignant message emphasizing the importance of providing a secure environment for the youth to pursue their education and ambitions.
Yuvraj Singh’s Instagram story read, “To every child, student, woman and man: you deserve the opportunity to learn in peace, grow with safety and chase your dreams”.
He further added: “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.”
Yuvraj Singh becomes the latest Indian sportsperson to speak publicly about the protests after the likes of Manu Bhaker and Nikhat Zareen.
What is happening at Jantar Mantar?
The current protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi began because of alleged leaks and irregularities in the 2026 NEET-UG medical entrance exams. Led by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and its founder Abhijeet Dipke, thousands of students have gathered to demand the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The demonstrators are also demanding a push for a thorough investigation into the exam scams and are calling for broad, systemic reforms to how public examinations are conducted in India.
The agitation escalated significantly on July 20, 2026, when the CJP organized a massive “Sansad Chalo” (March to Parliament) rally. Over 1,00,000 protesters attempted to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament House to amplify their demands during the ongoing monsoon session. Delhi Police, however, intercepted the crowds using heavy barricades, tear gas, and baton charges to prevent them from reaching the high-security zone. The resulting clashes left dozens of students and police personnel injured, and authorities temporarily dismantled the protesters’ stage.
Adding major weight to the movement, prominent climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk joined the students and began an indefinite hunger strike on June 28. After his health began to deteriorate, police forcibly removed Wangchuk from the protest site and admitted him to a hospital. From his hospital bed, Wangchuk has made it clear that he will only end his fast if the central government officially guarantees that the young students who participated in the “Sansad Chalo” march will not face any retaliatory legal action or police harassment.
