Cinema VinesVeteran actor Anupam Kher has stepped into the political arena to support the student demonstrations that began at Delhi’s historic Jantar Mantar square. The protests, led by the CJP (Chhatra Jagruti Party), demand the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amid accusations that his ministry leaked the NEET exam paper. The students, who marched on Monday, faced a lathi‑charge from the police, a fact that has drawn national attention and criticism of the government’s handling of the situation.
In a video posted to X, Kher expressed his solidarity with the students, saying he was “very sad” upon seeing the footage of the protest. He recalled his own student days and the questions he once raised to authorities, underscoring his empathy for the students’ frustration, anger, and aspirations. “No student should go through this when they just want to express their demand,” he said in Hindi, adding that student protests are “the most honest protest of all.”
Beyond voicing support, Kher cautioned the demonstrators against allowing external political forces to hijack their movement. He warned that parties entering the protest with the intention of registering a presence are likely to divert the cause to serve their own interests. “When external parties start entering your protest, especially political parties, they want to register their presence in every protest,” he said. “Their aim is not to advance your cause, but to fulfil their own vested interests.”
According to the actor, the influx of such groups can dilute the protest’s original message. Kher explained that while additional participants might initially seem to strengthen the demonstration, they often “take away the cameras and slogans” and shift focus away from the students’ demands. He urged the protestors to keep the movement “yours alone” and to resist being used as a tool for political agendas.
In closing, Kher reiterated that students have the right to question the government and to protest in a democracy, but they must be vigilant against misuse of their voice. His message, shared in Hindi with a translation for a broader audience, reads: “Students represent the greatest hope of any nation. Their voices must be heard, understood, and respected. I have just one plea: do not let your struggle, your cause, or your ideas become a tool in the hands of others.” The actor’s intervention comes at a time when the student movement is gaining momentum, and his call for autonomy and integrity could influence how the protests evolve in the coming days.
