Mumbai, July 25, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Veteran actress Soni Razdan has said that while students protesting over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations deserve to be heard, the educational reforms carried out during Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure should also be acknowledged.
Soni, who is also the mother of Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, shared her views amid nationwide protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for accountability in the examination system.
In a series of social media posts, the actress expressed solidarity with students, saying they were seeking fairness rather than favours after investing years of preparation in exams that shape their future.
“It is deeply upsetting to see young people on the streets just to ensure their hard work is not wasted,” she wrote, adding that authorities have a responsibility to listen when students lose trust in institutions.
Emphasising the importance of accountability, Soni said that repeated failures in systems require answers from those responsible.
“When problems keep happening even after assurances that the system has been fixed, students are right to demand accountability,” she wrote, adding that students deserve an examination system they can trust.
However, she also highlighted what she described as the positive work undertaken during Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure as Education Minister.
“It is also true that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure has seen real work — the National Education Policy, focus on vocational and foundational learning, digitalisation, and higher education reforms. That should be recognised,” she said.
Soni stressed that recognising progress and demanding accountability could happen simultaneously, urging that student concerns should not become a political battle.
“We can acknowledge progress and still demand accountability when things go wrong. We can stand with students without turning this into a political fight,” she wrote.
She also appealed to protesters to maintain focus on their stated goals of fairness and transparency, cautioning against the movement being diverted by other interests.
Her remarks come as student groups and activists continue demonstrations demanding reforms in the NEET examination process and action over alleged lapses in competitive examinations.
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