Cinema VinesActress Bhumi Pednekar recently sparked controversy after condemning the use of abusive language by protestors during a student demonstration against the NEET‑UG 2026 paper leak. In a post shared on Instagram, she urged young people to express their anger without resorting to profanity, arguing that such language does not reflect India’s cultural values. The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party, had drawn thousands of students outside Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to demand changes in the education system and the resignation of the Education Minister following a series of student suicides.
While Pednekar’s message focused on the language used by demonstrators, many online commentators pointed out that she failed to address the police’s violent response. Reports from the July 20 Sansad march indicate that protestors were lathi‑charged, beaten, and even shot at with guns. Critics argued that the actress’s silence on the police brutality left a significant gap in her critique of the protest.
Neha Bhasin, a singer and social media personality, took to Instagram to call out Pednekar’s selective criticism. In her post, Bhasin wrote, “I would have respected our dear PM more if there was a call out of the police for openly, inappropriately touching women during the protests as he is offended by the use of gaalis. He himself said these are kids. But the police is appointed to protect and abide by the law. So why is there no accountability there.” She added that Pednekar’s comments on the protest were “scripted” and suggested that it was better for the actress to remain silent.
Pednekar, who recently appeared on the reality show “Lock Upp” with Huma Qureshi, defended her stance by saying, “Looking at the videos surfacing now, the kind of language being used, and the way the youth of our country are speaking — this isn’t how we talk. We are talking about someone who holds the highest office in the land today. It’s wrong, and it really bothered me.” She emphasized that a country can only progress when its citizens discuss both its flaws and its strengths in a respectful manner.
The backlash against Pednekar’s comments highlights the broader debate over protest tactics and police accountability in India. While the actress sought to curb profanity, critics argue that ignoring the police’s violent actions undermines the very principles she claims to uphold.
