Cinema VinesIn a moving episode of his talk show, actor‑host Shekhar Suman addressed the police lathicharge on students during the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) Chalo Sansad march in Delhi, expressing deep sorrow over the violence that unfolded at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The protest, which drew tens of thousands of young demonstrators demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the education system, saw police deploy tear gas and batons as they tried to break through multiple barricades.
Speaking before the show’s opening, Suman described the images of “innocent, unarmed, helpless children” beaten with batons as “heartbreaking,” noting that the footage had left him sleepless for three days and caused him to break down in tears. He questioned the police’s actions, asking what fault the young protesters had for raising their voices against injustice and demanding a healthier education system.
The actor highlighted how the police labeled the young voices as “unruly, anti‑national, incompetent,” and warned that the more authorities try to crush them, the stronger they become. He reaffirmed his solidarity with “every fearless youth, every coordinator, every young person, and every Indian whose heart beats for the dignity of this nation.”
Despite initial uncertainty about airing the episode amid the ongoing national turmoil, Suman insisted that the show must go on, stating that it had a responsibility to continue and to stand with the students. He concluded by assuring the protesters that he was with them and that the show would continue to give them a platform.
