Cinema VinesOn Sunday evening, two of India’s most respected actors, Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj, joined a growing protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. The gathering, organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), is preparing for a march to Parliament on Monday as the monsoon session of the Lok Sabha begins. The CJP has been staging demonstrations since June 6, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and calling for accountability over irregularities in national entrance exams.
Azmi arrived at the protest site and was photographed greeting Raj before moving into the crowd. A video circulating online shows a protester who has been on a hunger strike for days sitting beside Azmi, kissing her hands and receiving a hug from the actress. The protester posted the clip with a caption thanking Azmi for her “support, solidarity and love.” Azmi also took to the stage to voice her backing for Sonam Wangchuk, the engineer who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28.
Raj, who had previously visited Jantar Mantar, returned to lend his voice to the cause. He delivered a speech on stage, declaring, “I am with you tonight. I am right here. We will see what happens.” After his address, he posted a selfie video from the venue, writing, “Youth of our country are #justasking.” The footage captured chants from the crowd behind him as he spoke about young people fighting for the cause.
The CJP’s planned march to Parliament is slated for Monday, coinciding with the start of the monsoon session. Police have heightened security across the New Delhi district and have stated that the party has not secured permission for the march. Authorities warned that they would not allow any unauthorized procession into the high‑security zone surrounding Parliament.
Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike, which began on June 28, has drawn significant public attention and celebrity support. He was taken by police to the hospital after a court petition, but the CJP continues to press for his release and for a thorough investigation into the exam irregularities that sparked the movement.
