Cinema VinesIn a blistering post on X, Tamil actor and Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan condemned the police’s use of tear gas and batons during the nationwide protests over the NEET exam controversy, calling the response “rotten” and urging the government to listen to the students’ pleas. Haasan highlighted the “tragic loss of young lives” and the “system where coaching replaces learning, anxiety replaces curiosity, and criminality replaces merit.” He warned that a nation fails when its children are met with barricades instead of answers, and called on the police to stop the violence against demonstrators.
The actor also addressed activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite fast in a Delhi hospital, asking him to end it. “The nation will need your conscience for the journey ahead. Please end your fast,” Haasan wrote, stressing the importance of Wangchuk’s voice in the coming days. Haasan’s message arrived as the protests, sparked by a leaked NEET paper and the subsequent suicides of several students, have escalated into a national movement demanding reforms.
Students, parents, and supporters have gathered at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and in cities across India, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a ₹1 crore compensation package for families of students who died by suicide, and the release of Sonam Wangchuk. The movement is led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which adopted the term after Chief Justice Surya Kant allegedly referred to unemployed youth activists as “cockroaches.” The CJP’s slogan, “@cockroachisback #CJPProtest,” has become a rallying cry for the demonstrators.
After the July 20 “Chalo Sansad” march, clashes erupted between a segment of protesters and police. Authorities deployed tear gas and batons, leading to injuries and arrests. Despite the violence, the protests have continued, with students and supporters demanding accountability and a transparent, fair examination system. Haasan’s call for an end to police brutality and his support for the students underscore the growing frustration with the current educational framework and the urgent need for systemic change.
