India
oi-Swastika Sruti
With several big leaders and celebrities coming forward in support of the students, Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has begun a silent protest in Maharashtra’s Ahilyanagar, lending support to students demonstrating in Delhi over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has launched a silent protest in Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, supporting students in Delhi who are demanding accountability and transparency regarding alleged irregularities and paper leaks in competitive examinations.
His ‘Maun andolan’ adds moral weight to a protest movement that has grown sharper amid demands for accountability, transparency and action against suspected paper leaks.
It must be known that Anna Hazare’s intervention comes as students groups and the Cockroach Janata Party have continued their protest in the National Capital.
Anna Hazare joined students protesting in Nagar & turned emotional. Maintaining that it was a silent protest, Hazare said he would not speak to the media. Before that, he left our interview in mid-way!#CJP #AnnaHazare @mumbaitak @IndiaToday pic.twitter.com/95VKtg4TCC
— Omkar Wable (@omkarasks) July 23, 2026
Anna Hazare backs students’ demand for accountability
Hazare, a veteran Gandhian known for public campaigns on governance and corruption, had earlier expressed support for the student agitation. He urged the government to address the concerns raised by students and restore confidence in the examination system. His silent protest in Ahilyanagar is being seen as a symbolic move rather than a conventional political demonstration.
The choice of a maun andolan is significant in Hazare’s style of protest. Silent protest has often been used by Gandhian activists to signal moral disapproval while avoiding confrontation. In the present case, it places the focus back on the students’ core demand: credible examinations and timely action when irregularities are alleged.
For lakhs of students, competitive examinations are not just academic tests. They determine access to colleges, professional courses, scholarships and government jobs. Allegations of paper leaks or manipulation can therefore have a severe impact on public trust, especially among candidates from smaller towns and economically weaker families who spend years preparing for such exams.
