'Failure is okay, cheating is not': Sachin Tendulkar backs students over NEET paper leak protests

New Delhi: Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has voiced support for students protesting against repeated examination paper leaks, saying their disappointment is understandable and calling on society to ensure that such situations do not recur.

In a post on X on Thursday, Tendulkar recalled the values instilled in him by his late father, Ramesh Tendulkar, a professor, saying honesty and integrity should always take precedence over shortcuts.

"My father taught me one thing very early in life: Failure is okay, cheating is not. Never take shortcuts," Tendulkar wrote.

He said society has a collective responsibility to foster a culture that rewards hard work and merit rather than outcomes achieved through unfair means.

"As adults in society, we have the responsibility of shaping culture. A society which prioritises outcomes over effort will seek shortcuts over meritocracy. Today, when students feel disappointed that their hard work hasn't been rewarded, it is understandable," he said.

"Collectively, we should all work together towards ensuring they don't feel this way again," he added.

The protests, which began on 20 July, have intensified in recent days, with police resorting to lathi charges on multiple occasions, citing law and order concerns.

The agitation is being led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), with environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk extending support through an indefinite fast.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for the alleged NEET paper leaks that prompted a re-test. The issue has triggered nationwide outrage, with reports of multiple student suicides in the aftermath of the controversy.