Yashaswinee Raje Singh, a content creator and daughter of former BJP MLA Vikram Singh from Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur Sadar, has publicly supported the Gen Z-led student protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and other examination issues.
The protests, which began on June 20, concluded after 36 days on July 25 following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the government’s acceptance of the remaining demands. Yashaswinee also took part in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The movement attracted thousands of students from across the country and received support from several opposition parties.
Supports student movement
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Yashaswinee said Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation should not be viewed as a defining moment.
“It’s really, really shortsighted to be viewing the resignation as sort of this watershed moment,” she said.
She also criticised the language used in Pradhan’s resignation letter, saying it reflected the tone of a martyr rather than someone accepting responsibility.
Pradhan had stated that he resigned to prevent the controversy from harming students’ futures and to ensure “anti-national forces do not exploit the situation.”
“The language of the resignation letter itself is more of a martyr’s than of someone who’s remorseful, apologetic and holding themselves to account,” she said.
Praising the CJP campaign, Yashaswinee said the party successfully mobilised young people through memes and Instagram.
“CJP did a very, very great job of galvanising this sort of largely apolitical audience… through their innovative messaging, through memes, and their focus was Instagram,” she said.
Criticises new education minister
Yashaswinee also questioned the appointment of Pralhad Joshi as the new Union Education Minister, calling it a “very, very bleak joke.”
Keeps politics separate from family
She said she avoids political discussions with her father, who lost the Fatehpur Sadar Assembly seat to the Samajwadi Party in the 2024 elections.
“I don’t even live at home. I’ve been in India for the last three and a half years, and I live by myself,” she said.
She added that she has maintained distance from her family’s political environment, allowing her to express her views freely.
The July 20 protests witnessed clashes between demonstrators and security personnel at several locations in New Delhi, including Parliament Street, Connaught Place and Jantar Mantar.