Several members of the film industry have supported the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) youth protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where students have demanded accountability for alleged NEET irregularities and wider education reforms. As the demonstrations intensified during the monsoon session, actors Sonu Sood, Vir Das, Dia Mirza, Soha Ali Khan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Aayush Sharma, Rohit Saraf, Prakash Raj, Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh publicly stood in solidarity with the protesters.The march, organized under the banner of ‘Sansad Chalo’, later witnessed clashes between protesters and security personnel as the protesters tried to advance towards the Parliament.
Sonu Sood pleads for compassion
Reacting to the developments, Sonu Sood urged the authorities to respond with empathy rather than force. Sharing a message on Instagram Stories, he wrote, “Our students don’t need lathis (sticks), they need hands to hug them (sic).”
Vir Das urges artists to speak up
Actor and comedian Vir Das appealed to fellow performers not to remain silent as youths continue to protest. In his Instagram post, he wrote, “If you are an Indian live artist. I hope you understand the sheer hypocrisy of not talking about the youth and then trying to sell them tickets later (sic).”Das continued, “The luxury of being a silent spectator to what an Indian crowd cares about, and then expecting an Indian crowd to be loud and vocal and care about you. Apna apna dekh lo, lekin mere liye pahunch jaana (Take care, but make sure you get there for me).Explaining why he thinks the issue goes beyond politics, Vir added: “I understand that ‘you’re not political,’ which is the subtext of ‘I’m very comfortable.’ I always look at these statements and think, dude. But today, I would humbly tell you that this issue is no longer political or partisan. It’s just about what they care about, the platform they care about. You do (sic).“
Aditi Rao Hydari highlights the dialogue
Aditi Rao Hydari called for empathy and respectful conversations while reacting to the ongoing protests. His Instagram post read: “Whatever anyone’s political preferences, humanity must come first.”He further wrote: “We must ensure a safe environment based on respect, dignity and empathy for all our courageous students and all determined voices seeking to be heard, with a genuine commitment to constructive dialogue. Listening to each other is the foundation of meaningful progress. Our students are our future (sic).”
Dia Mirza condemns the use of force
Dia Mirza criticized the use of force against protesters, saying the day’s events reflected deeper concerns about the treatment of peaceful protesters. He wrote: “Today has been a day that has revealed many truths. A day that thousands of people showed up to mark their protest demanding accountability, transparency and reform of the education system (sic).”Continuing his statement, the actor added: “A day when the forces that have a duty to protect their citizens used brute force on them, including women and children in reaction to their peaceful protest. Hopeful and angry (sic).”
Soha Ali Khan praises fearless youth
Expressing solidarity with the students, Soha Ali Khan applauded the younger generation for raising their voices. She wrote: “The future belongs to the youth. May they always have the freedom to ask, the courage to speak and the space to protest peacefully. Jai Hind (sic).”
Aayush Sharma and Rohit Saraf extend the support
Supporting the protest, Aayush Sharma emphasized the importance of listening to citizens in a democracy. He said, “The sign of a healthy democracy is not voting, but the voice of its people. Whether students or any citizen of the country raise their voice, then it should be heard, not suppressed. Today the government had a dialogue with the students. This is a victory for all those who are brave in Jantar Mantar.“Meanwhile, Rohit Saraf praised the resilience of the participants in the agitation.Sharing her thoughts, she wrote: “Today has been heartbreaking but I know one thing…not just our nation, the whole world is listening. It’s the sound of a future that feels brighter despite the uncertainty of today (sic).”
The protest demands educational reforms
The demonstration was organized to coincide with the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The protesters demanded nationwide education reforms and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET exams.As the march progressed towards Parliament, clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel.
Memorandum sent to JP Nadda
A delegation representing the CJP later met Union Health Minister JP Nadda and submitted a memorandum outlining three main demands. These included the immediate release of activist Sonam Wangchuk from hospital care, the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and a compensation of Rs 1 million to the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly committed suicide after the exam paper was leaked.
More celebrities are joining the movement
Actor Prakash Raj also participated in the CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ march in Delhi. Addressing the gathering, he waved a copy of the Constitution while expressing his support to the students over the alleged NEET irregularities.