Many members of the film industry extended their support to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) youth-led protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where students 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 demonstrators tried to move towards Parliament.
Sonu Sood called for mercy
Responding to the developments, Sonu Sood urged the authorities to respond with empathy instead of force. Sharing a message on Instagram Stories, he wrote, “Our students don’t need lathis (sticks), they need hands to embrace them (sic).”
Vir Das urged artists to speak up
Actor-comedian Vir Das called on fellow performers not to remain silent as the youth protest continues. In his Instagram post, he wrote, “If you are an Indian live artist. I hope you understand the utter hypocrisy of not speaking up for the youth, and then trying to sell them tickets later (sic).”Das continued, “The sheer luxury of being a silent spectator of 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 of yourself, but make sure you come there for me). Doesn’t work.Explaining why he believes the issue is more than politics, Vir added, “I understand ‘you’re not political’ as a subtext for ‘I’m really comfortable’. I always look at the statements and think, dude. (sic).“
Aditi Rao Hydari moderated the dialogue
Aditi Rao Hydari called for empathy and respectful conversations while reacting to the ongoing protests. His Instagram post read, “Regardless of anyone’s political preferences, the person should come first.”He further wrote, “We must ensure a safe environment built on respect, dignity, and empathy for all our courageous students, and for 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 condemned the use of force
Dia Mirza criticized the use of force against demonstrators, saying the day’s events reflected deeper concerns about the treatment of peaceful protesters. He wrote, “Today is a day that reveals many truths. A day that thousands of people showed up to mark their protest demanding accountability, transparency and reform for the education system (sic).”Continuing his statement, the actor added, “A day when the forces tasked with protecting these citizens used brutal force on them including women and children as a reaction to their peaceful protest. Hopeful and angry (sic).”
Soha Ali Khan praises the fearless youth
Expressing solidarity with the students, Soha Ali Khan applauded the younger generation for raising their voices. He 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 provided 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. Now the government has a dialogue with the students. This is a victory for all those who bravely stood at Jantar Mantar.“Meanwhile, Rohit Saraf praised the resilience of those who participated in the agitation.Sharing his thoughts, he wrote, “Today is sad, but I know one thing..not only our country, the whole world is listening. This is the voice of a future that feels brighter despite the uncertainty of the present (sic).”
The protest demanded educational reforms
The demonstration was organized to coincide with the start of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The protesters demanded education reforms across the country and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.As the march made its way to Parliament, confrontations broke out between protesters and security personnel.
Memorandum submitted to JP Nadda
A delegation representing the CJP later met Union Health Minister JP Nadda and submitted a memorandum outlining three main demands. These include the immediate release of activist Sonam Wangchuk from hospital care, the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly committed suicide after the examination paper was leaked.
Many celebrities participated in the event
Actor Prakash Raj also participated in CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ march in Delhi. Addressing the gathering, he waved a copy of the Constitution while expressing support for the students over alleged NEET irregularities.
