Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar posts urging society to uphold honesty and meritocracy in the context of ongoing student protests, including those linked to the NEET paper leak. In a long message on Thursday, Tendulkar says that while “failure is okay,” cheating is not, and he frames the issue as one of culture—calling on adults to create an environment where hard work is rewarded and shortcuts are discouraged. He does not directly mention the NEET controversy in the message or name any government body or political party. Instead, he highlights values he says were taught to him by his late father, who was a professor, and he argues that society should respond when students feel their efforts have not been rewarded. The message emphasizes collective responsibility across parents, teachers, schools, administrators, and others to keep young people encouraged and ensure their aspirations are safeguarded. Other reports also note that the broader protests are driven by students seeking accountability and fair resolutions, with some other cricketers similarly calling for integrity and an end to mistreatment during demonstrations.