Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday praised Gen-Z protesters who demonstrated at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in recent weeks over the NEET paper leak row, saying their movement reflected the aspirations of India’s younger generation.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during a discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Gandhi described the protests as peaceful and said they were not driven by anger, hatred or violence.
Gandhi said he was reassured by the way young people had expressed themselves during the demonstrations, arguing that political parties, including the BJP, should respect the sentiment behind the protests.
‘This Was Not Anger, Violence Or Hatred’
“I was very excited, reassured by what the future of this country did on our streets,” Gandhi said while referring to the demonstrations.
“This was not anger, not violence, not hatred. This was a deep expression of the youth of this country, of the future generation of this country,” he said.
Gandhi said the response of political parties should be to respect the expression of young protesters rather than dismiss it.
He also said he believed BJP leaders would find that their own children understood and supported the concerns expressed by the young protesters.
Gandhi Says Every Indian Should Be Proud
Addressing BJP members in the House, Gandhi said, “I feel that all political parties must respect this expression, including my friends in the BJP.”
He added that BJP leaders could ask their own children what they felt about the demonstrations and the young people participating in them.
the Gen Z for their protest as he addressed the Lok Sabha over the NEET paper leak row.