Cinema VinesActor Dia Mirza used her Instagram account on Saturday to voice support for activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was forcibly removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi. In a post that read, “I stand with the students of this nation. I support the right to peaceful protest. I stand by the demand for accountability, transparency and reforms in our education system. I stand with Sonam Wangchuk, Neha, Ameen and Manish,” Mirza affirmed her solidarity with students nationwide and urged continued dialogue and peaceful protest.
Wangchuk, a prominent education reformer, had joined the Cockroach Janata Party’s demonstration on June 6 to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process. He began an indefinite hunger strike on June 28 and remained at Jantar Mantar until police, following a Delhi High Court order and medical advice, escorted him to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday because of his deteriorating health.
In her comments, Mirza expressed disappointment at the manner of Wangchuk’s removal, noting, “Sonam ji was taken away without his consent, by force from the site of peaceful protest.” She invoked Mandela’s legacy, stating that “Madiba was inspired by Gandhi. These extraordinary men brought about revolutionary change by peaceful protest and resistance against oppression,” and urged followers to respond to online trolls “respectfully and with grace.”
Wangchuk’s protest, which has continued since early June, seeks transparency and accountability in the education sector, particularly regarding the NEET exam. The Delhi Police’s action was said to comply with the High Court’s directive and medical experts’ advice, while protestors attempted to challenge the removal. Mirza’s public backing adds to a growing chorus of celebrities supporting Wangchuk and the student movement.
