Cinema VinesIn a surge of dissent that began on Monday, around 50,000 demonstrators took to the streets of New Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protests, which have since spread to other cities such as Mumbai, were sparked by allegations that a NEET examination paper had been leaked, raising questions about the fairness of the selection process for medical aspirants. The movement gained further momentum after reports surfaced of students taking their own lives, a tragedy that many attribute to the intense pressure of the exam and the uncertainty it creates.
Actor Ishaan Khatter, who has previously expressed support for the students, issued a statement two days after the Delhi Police used lathis against protestors during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Chalo Sansad” march. In his post, Khatter identified himself as a “student first” before a professional, sharing images from the protests in Delhi and Mumbai. One photograph showed model Rhiya Ahir, a 27‑year‑old who became a prominent face of the rally at Shivaji Park, blocking a police van that had taken in detained protestors. Another image captured a woman shielding fellow demonstrators from lathi‑charging by the police.
Khatter’s caption read, “In solidarity. No monologues. May our voices be heard and may nobody have to be harmed anymore for it. I am a student first before I am a professional. Today I’m a proud Indian because of the grit and resilience of our youth. जय हिंद.” He added that the movement is a testament to the grit and resilience of Indian youth.
The protests, organized by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, have seen supporters gather at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and in other cities, demanding accountability and reforms. Key demands include the resignation of Minister Pradhan, a compensation of ₹1 crore for families of students who died by suicide, and the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk. The movement has drawn the attention of Bollywood stars such as Alia Bhatt, Salman Khan, Huma Qureshi, Saqib Saleem, Sonakshi Sinha, Prakash Raj, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Amol Parasher, Swara Bhasker, and many others, who have voiced their support for the cause.”
