Actor and BJP MP Hema Malini addressed the ongoing protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) near Parliament, saying that dialogue, not demonstrations, is the way to solve problems. The actor-politician attended the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament in New Delhi on Monday and spoke to the media after the session.Responding to questions about the protesters’ demands, Hema told the media, “Agar kuch problema hai toh achhi tarah se is discussed karna chahiye. Is tarah se protest karne se toh kuch kaam nahi hoga?” (If there’s a problem, it needs to be talked about properly. Protesting like this won’t solve anything.)
“Students should not be deceived”
Speaking about the students’ participation in the agitation, Hema defended the Centre’s work in the education sector and urged the organizers of the protest to engage with the government instead of taking to the streets.“Hamari Modi sarkar hamesha yuvaon aur education system ke saath rahi hai. Bahut kaam kiya hai uske liye. Abhi jo aap log protest kar rahe hain, iska koi matlab nahi hai. Main kahungi baat karke isko solve karna chahiye. Sarkar se baat karni chahiye,” he said.He further added, “Students ko gumrah nahi karna chahiye. Unko barabar batana chahiye ki kya problem hai, instead of unko disturb karke aur apni baat manwane ke liye unko istemal karna.” (Students should not be misled. They should be clearly informed about the real issue rather than being pestered and lured into someone else’s agenda.)
On Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation requests
When asked about the protesters’ demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Hema chose not to comment in detail.“Abhi is vishay mein main zyada kuch bolna nahi chahungi. Iske liye kya stand lena hai, hamari sarkar barabar legi.” (I would not like to comment much on this topic right now. Whatever position has to be taken, our government will take it).
At the Robbery of Ayodhya Ram Mandir topic
Hema was also asked about the alleged robbery at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Responding to the issue, he said strict action should be taken if any violation is established.“Agar jin logon ne galat kaam kiya hai, unko zaroor saza milegi. Jo bhi ho, koi bhi ho. Kaafi logon ko jail bhi bheja ja chuka hai. Hamari sarkar ekdum nyay karegi.” (If someone has done something wrong, he will definitely be punished, whoever he is. Many people have already been sent to jail and our government will ensure that justice is served.)
The protest gains the support of film personalities
The protests have been supported by several members of the film fraternity. On Sunday, actors Prakash Raj, Shabana Azmi and Poonam Pandey joined the protesters at Jantar Mantar. Prakash Raj shared a video from the protest site, while Shabana Azmi was seen meeting and cheering the hunger strike protesters. Poonam Pandey told the media that the movement was about students affected by alleged discrepancies in the NEET exams and not about politics or religion.On Monday morning, Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj helped students observing an indefinite hunger strike with activist Sonam Wangchuk to break their fast. Several celebrities including Kiran Rao, Hrithik Roshan, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan and Shatrughan Sinha have also expressed their solidarity with Wangchuk on social media. Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ended his indefinite hunger strike on Monday at the request of Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after her own 21-day fast required medical intervention on July 18. Later in the day, CJP representatives Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das rallied against Union Health Minister JPgodda.