Congress's paper leak protest lacked resonance, admits Shashi Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has called for introspection within his party, admitting that their student outreach initiative, "Chhatron ki Goonj," addressing issues like paper leaks, did not gain the traction seen in protests organized by other groups, specifically the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

During an event marking the 15th anniversary of the India's International Movement to Unite Nations (IIMUN) in Mumbai, Tharoor stated that the issues highlighted by the CJP at Jantar Mantar had previously been part of the Congress's student campaign. He questioned the party's effectiveness, asking, "What did we fail to do? Did we fail to listen? Was our finger missing from the pulse of the Gen Z?"

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Issues taken up by the CJP at Jantar Mantar had been taken up by us earlier. We had the ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ thing where Rahul Gandhi was addressing students about the paper leaks.

The CJP initiated protests against the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, demanding accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. This movement gained significant attention, with educationist Sonam Wangchuk joining an indefinite hunger strike in support. The protests intensified, leading to a planned Parliament march that was preceded by Wangchuk's removal from the Jantar Mantar site and subsequent police action against protesting students.

In contrast, the Congress party, through its student wing NSUI, had organized protests earlier in Delhi following allegations of paper leaks in the NEET exam. Rahul Gandhi also launched the "Chhatron Ki Goonj" campaign, interacting with students in cities like Kota and Dehradun to address examination irregularities. However, Tharoor's comments suggest a perceived disconnect between the party's efforts and the resonance achieved by other activist groups.

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We need to ask ourselves what did we fail to do? Did we fail to listen? Was our finger missing from the pulse of the Gen Z?