Gen Z caught the BJP off guard. Can the Opposition make it count?

The protest was called off on July 25 following the resignation of Pradhan as Union Education Minister. (Express photo) 6 min readNew DelhiJul 31, 2026 07:19 AM IST First published on: Jul 31, 2026 at 07:15 AM IST Many agree that if the BJP had sent emissaries — even members of the Delhi Government — early on to Jantar Mantar to talk to fasting activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders, who were then holding a sit-in there to demand accountability over the NEET exam paper leak, the crisis would not have escalated as it did. The BJP government misread the Gen Z protests and miscalculated its response to the situation, which has landed it in a spot.