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The paper leak cases that are constantly surfacing across the country have not only cast doubt on the future of the youth, but are now also having political implications. Even NDA supporters, who typically stand firmly behind the government’s decisions, seem uneasy with the central government’s handling of this issue. The latest C-Voter snap poll has increased the concerns of the Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies. The survey data clearly indicates that youth anger is now transforming into political discontent.

In fact, nearly two out of every five NDA supporters surveyed openly admitted they were dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the paper leak. This means nearly 40 percent of NDA voters feel this sensitive issue was not handled as it should have been. This statistic is significant because it highlights the bitterness brewing within the ruling party’s core vote bank, not the opposition’s.

Political impact of CJP protests and paper leak

The public outrage following the NEET-UG controversy and the violent protests by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) forced the then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. The government subsequently introduced stringent amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 in Parliament and announced fast-track courts. However, public opinion remains divided on the extent to which the move is acceptable.

According to the survey, 31.7 percent of respondents believed that enacting stricter laws should have been the government’s top priority. Meanwhile, 27 percent considered Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation the most important step, and 17 percent considered the formation of an expert panel a priority. The discussion in Parliament also drew mixed reactions—35 percent were satisfied, while 39 percent expressed displeasure.

Public opinion divided on police action and FIR

The country is also divided on the CJP’s demand to withdraw the FIRs filed against the protesting students. A look at the statistics:

• 35.5% people want that the cases registered against all the protesters should be withdrawn immediately.
• Less than 25% are in favor of granting relief only to peaceful protesters.
• More than 33% people believe that investigating agencies should conduct a thorough investigation before taking any decision.

On the other hand, there was widespread public anger over alleged police brutality during the protests. Approximately 62.7 percent of respondents said there should be an impartial investigation into police excesses. Interestingly, 58 percent of NDA supporters also supported the demand for an investigation against the police. However, the public is not in favor of encouraging violent protests or the use of abusive language on social media—54.2 percent want strict action against protesters who post objectionable posts.

Modi remains a popular leader, but the mood of the youth has changed.

Despite all the controversy and discontent, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s personal popularity doesn’t appear to be significantly affected. PM Modi maintains a 12 percentage point lead over Rahul Gandhi in the “Most Popular Leader in India” poll. While Rahul Gandhi may still be trailing, his acceptance among young people has gradually increased.

C-Voter’s findings reveal that the real challenge isn’t just paper leaks or protests by opposition parties, but rather the growing aspirations of the country’s youth, which are being stifled by limited opportunities. In the survey, 12 percent of respondents considered CJP to be the voice of the youth, while nearly 50 percent said they would support such public interest movements in the future. Surprisingly, 38 percent of NDA supporters also agreed that they could become part of youth movements on these issues in the future.

This snap poll was conducted by C-Voter on July 29th and 30th using CATI (computer-assisted telephone interviewing), and polled 1,349 adult citizens across the country. The data suggests that the government must take concrete and transparent steps if it is to fully regain the trust of the youth.