An estimated 50,000 protesters took to the streets of the national capital on Monday, demanding the resignation of the education minister. Dharmendra Pradhanaccording to reports. Protests continued in the following days, also in Mumbai. After these demonstrations, many Bollywood actors expressed their support for the students. Two days after Delhi Police charged protesters during Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Chalo Sansad march, actor Ishaan Khatter spoke on the issue, calling himself a “student first” and a professional second.
Ishaan Khatter shared photos from the protests in Delhi and Mumbai
In his latest post, Ishaan shared several pictures from the ongoing protests in Delhi and Mumbai. A picture shows 27-year-old model Rhiya Ahir, who emerged as a prominent face at the Shivaji Park protest on Wednesday after she stood in front of a police van transporting detained protesters, part of the demonstrations demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. Another photo shows a woman protecting fellow protesters from a Delhi Police lathi charge.The actor wrote in the caption, “In solidarity. No monologues. May our voices be heard and may nobody have to be harm anymore for it. First I was a student before I was a professional. Now I am a proud Indian because of the strength and tenacity of our youth. जय हिंद.”.
Ishaan Khatter’s post comes amid the NEET paper leak fallout
The protests started after the news about the NEET paper leak, which angered many medical aspirants and made them question whether the exam was fair. Things got worse when reports came out that many students had died due to suicide, and people blamed it on the great pressure and stress caused by the exam. Since then, students, parents, and supporters have gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and other cities too, demanding accountability and change in the system. The protest was led by a group called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). It got its name after Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly called unemployed youth activists “cockroaches.” The protesters then adopted the word as their own, making it a symbol of their fight.Among the major demands of the protesters were the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister, a compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of students who died due to suicide, and activists. Sonam Wangchukthe release.
Ishaan Khatter has joined the list of Bollywood stars who have backed the protests
As the student protests continue to grow into a nationwide movement, many actors, including Alia Bhatt, Salman Khan, Huma Qureshi, Saqib Saleem, Sonakshi SinhaPrakash Raj, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Amol Parasher, and Swara Bhaskerand others, came to share their views on the ongoing demonstrations.