Cinema VinesActress and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt has publicly denounced Delhi University’s latest advisory, which urged students and faculty to stay away from the protests unfolding at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on July 23, 2026, Bhatt criticized the university’s stance, arguing that the safety of students is threatened when their voices are silenced and that they should be encouraged to exercise their right to speak out.
The advisory, issued earlier that Thursday, warned that gatherings at Jantar Mantar were “unlawful assemblies” under Supreme Court directives and that participation could lead to legal action. It also cautioned that attending the demonstrations might jeopardise students’ personal safety, academic progress and future career prospects, and highlighted the spread of misinformation linked to the protests.
These protests, which began over allegations of a NEET exam paper leak, have grown into a wider movement demanding accountability and reforms in the education system. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has led the demonstrations, which have spread beyond Delhi to cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru, calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In her X post, Bhatt wrote: “The students safety is more in jeopardy if their voices are suppressed. If we are truly invested in their future, we must support their right to speak out rather than maintain a conspiracy of silence.” Her remarks join a chorus of film personalities who have weighed in on the student movement, ranging from support for the protesters’ demands to calls for peaceful dialogue.
As the protests continue, the debate over how universities should respond to student activism remains heated. Bhatt’s critique underscores the broader tension between institutional authority and the growing demand for student participation in shaping educational policy.
