Manoj Muntashir expresses concern over the students’ protest. (Image source: Instagram)
Following student protests in India, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post. Many Bollywood celebrities stood in solidarity with the students, and famous lyricist Manoj Muntashir also expressed his support for the students who are demanding justice over the NEET paper leak.
However, he questioned the direction and representation of the protests. Speaking exclusively to us, he called for systemic reforms, but also mentioned what he found wrong with the student protests.
Manoj Muntashir expresses his reservations about students’ agitation against NEET leaks
“Students must be listened to. How can there be any other opinion on this? Whatever they say, if even one student loses his life, the entire system must be held accountable. Today we see that the post of chief minister has also come,” the popular lyricist expressed before Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
“He has formed a special investigation team. It is written on the Prime Minister’s post that he will punish every violator who contributed to the leaking of NEET papers,” he added.Then sharing what he found wrong with the movement, he said: “At the same time, what is happening in Jantar Mantar? What was this? We want to see this country turn into Bangladesh? We want to see it turn into Nepal? The way the youth are being misled, the youth of this country deserve better representation.”
Manoj Muntashir says he is not against the student movement. It does not agree with the representation
“The issue that was there, the NEET issue is a very big issue,” he said, before asking: “Did we talk about this issue?”He added: “We must listen to the students 100%. I am sure that the outcome of this movement will be positive. Their pain and suffering will reach our Prime Minister, it will reach the government. It is reaching. I can see it is reaching. That’s all.”“It’s not that paper leakage has happened for the first time.
It was happening earlier too. So there is a problem in the system. This problem is not with ministers and governments. This happened in previous governments, and it is happening in this government as well. So there is a problem. It’s a corrupt system. “Please fix this system,” he explained.Elaborating on this point, he said: “If anyone says that someone should come forward to defend the system, then that person is wrong. There is no one to defend the system. Here, I am completely with the students.”“But I am not with these traitorous people. I am not with those who say India is broken,” he concluded.