‘You Made Us All Proud’: Greta Thunberg Backs Indian Students at London Protest

Greta Thunberg Backs Indian Students’ Protest at London Rally, Calls It ‘True Meaning of People Power’

Climate activist Greta Thunberg on Monday voiced support for the ongoing student movement in India over alleged examination irregularities, describing it as an example of “the true meaning of people power” and urging international solidarity with students seeking justice.

Thunberg joined a demonstration organised by Students’ Federation of India (SFI) UK outside the Indian High Commission in London, where protesters gathered in support of students in India demanding greater transparency and accountability in the country’s examination system.

Photos and videos shared by SFI UK leaders showed Thunberg participating in the protest alongside demonstrators carrying placards expressing solidarity with Indian students.

‘The Indian Student Protest Has Made Us All Proud’

Addressing the gathering on Sunday (local time), Thunberg praised the movement, saying it had inspired people far beyond India’s borders.

“The Indian student protest has made us all proud. They have given us hope. They show what we can accomplish when people come together and resist. They show the true meaning of people power. The Indian students’ struggle for justice and the broader struggle for democracy and liberation is also our struggle. So we all have to come together now and rise up in solidarity with India,” she said.

SFI President VP Sanu thanked Thunberg for extending her support, saying the student movement had demonstrated the strength of collective action and inspired people around the world.

Protest Linked to Exam Irregularities

The London demonstration was organised in solidarity with student protests in India over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak controversy.

In Delhi, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had led a 36-day protest at Jantar Mantar demanding greater transparency in examinations, action against those responsible for paper leaks and reforms to the examination system.

The agitation also called for the resignation of then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who later stepped down.

The CJP subsequently ended its protest after the Centre accepted its remaining demands, including compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET controversy and the withdrawal of FIRs registered against protesters.

Government Announces Reform Measures

A day after the agitation ended, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of a high-powered examination reforms task force headed by Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani. The government has also said it will introduce amendments in Parliament to strengthen the anti-paper leak law.

Greta’s Previous India Controversy

This is not the first time Thunberg has commented on an issue involving India.

In 2021, she became the centre of a political controversy after sharing an online “toolkit” aimed at mobilising international support for the farmers’ protests. Delhi Police later registered a case against the creators of the document, though Thunberg was not named in the FIR.