Prominent Artistes Condemn Police Action Against CJP Protesters in Delhi

Several prominent personalities from the Indian entertainment industry, including filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, actor Huma Qureshi, and comedian-actor Vir Das, have raised concerns over the police action against student protesters in New Delhi. The demonstrations, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), saw thousands of students marching towards Parliament on Monday, July 20, to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG question paper leak earlier this year.

The protest, which coincided with the opening day of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, escalated into clashes between the demonstrators and security personnel. Visuals from the march showed the Delhi Police using lathis and tear gas to disperse the crowd, drawing widespread criticism online. While the police claimed that some demonstrators engaged in unruly behaviour, prompting the use of force, several public figures have condemned the action as excessive.

Filmmakers and Actors Condemn Use of Force

Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap expressed his strong disapproval of the police action on Instagram. Questioning the actions of the personnel involved, Kashyap wrote: "Wardi pehenne ke liye aatma ka, aatmiyta ka, sabka sauda karna padta hai. Maloom nahi tha. Kya ek police wala hai is desh mein jo khada ho ke bol sake main iss Aadesh ka palan nahin karoonga kyonki ye galat hai (I didn’t know you have to sell your soul and conscience to wear a police uniform. Is there one police personnel in this country who can stand up and say I won’t follow this order because it is wrong)."

Actor Huma Qureshi also voiced her support for the students and criticised the security response. In a statement shared on Instagram, Qureshi expressed her sadness over the events, stating that the situation could have been managed through dialogue rather than force.

"Seeing peaceful protesters being met with such brute force and lathis left me with a deep sense of sadness," Qureshi wrote. "This surely could have been handled with more patience, more listening, and more dialogue. We, the people of India elected this government and today, we all need to ask questions and expect accountability. We are a huge diverse nation… we don’t all have to agree on every issue, but surely we can agree that every citizen deserves to be heard with dignity before force becomes the response. Respect to every student and every citizen who chose to stand peacefully for what they believe in."

Vir Das Calls Out Industry Silence

Comedian, actor, and filmmaker Vir Das took the opportunity to criticise the silence of fellow artistes regarding the ongoing protests. In an Instagram post, Das highlighted the connection between live performers and the youth who support them, calling out the hypocrisy of remaining silent on issues affecting young audiences.

"If you’re an Indian live artist. I hope you understand the sheer hypocrisy of not speaking up for young people, and then trying to sell them tickets later," Das wrote. "The sheer luxury of being a silent viewer to what an Indian crowd cares about, and then expecting an Indian crowd to be loud and vocal and care about you. Apna apna dekh lo, lekin mere liye pahunch jaana. Doesn’t work."

Das added that the concert economy in India relies heavily on young people gathering in support. Addressing those who claim to be non-political, he stated: "I get that ‘you’re not political’ which is subtext for ‘I’m really comfortable’. I always look at those statements and think, do you buddy. But today humbly, I’d submit to you that this issue isn’t political or partisan anymore. It’s just about the youth now. And you can support them by platforming what they care about. Beyond that, you do you."

Industry Voices Express Solidarity

Other members of the film fraternity have also expressed their support for the protesting students. Actor Riteish Deshmukh and his wife, Genelia Deshmukh, released a joint statement on the social media platform X, emphasizing the importance of listening to the country's youth.

"We stand in solidarity with the youth of our country," the statement read. "Their voices deserve to be heard, loud, clear, and without fear. They are the heartbeat of our democracy and the true architects of our nation’s future. Let us listen, support, and empower them. The energy, courage, and dreams of our young people will shape the India we aspire to build. Jai Hind."

Additionally, actor Shabana Azmi claimed that authorities attempted to shift the blame onto the students during the CJP protest, stating, "I was right there."

Background of the CJP Protest

The CJP-led protest began on June 20, demanding accountability for the alleged NEET-UG paper leak controversy. Educationist Sonam Wangchuk joined the movement on June 28 and has been on an indefinite fast for more than 20 days. Wangchuk is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alongside Rs 1 crore in compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the controversy.

The 'Chalo Sansad' march on Monday marked a significant escalation in the demonstration, which has entered its 24th day at Jantar Mantar amid heavy security deployment in the national capital.