Students at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) have questioned actor and FTII Chairman R. Madhavan over his silence on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests taking place at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
The protests are focused on allegations that the NEET examination paper was leaked. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the issue.
A photograph from the FTII campus has now gone viral on Instagram. The image shows the door of Madhavan’s office with a poster carrying the popular “Gayab” meme. Along with the meme, the poster displayed the words, “NEET for sale.”
Social media users seek Madhavan’s response
The viral image quickly spread across social media, with many users asking why Madhavan had not spoken publicly about the ongoing protests.
Several people pointed out that, as the Chairman of one of India’s leading film institutes and a well-known public figure, they expected him to respond to the concerns being raised by students and protesters.
Aamir Khan also faces online criticism
The controversy comes at a time when actor Aamir Khan has also faced criticism on social media over comments related to activist Sonam Wangchuk.
Aamir recently said that he did not know who Wangchuk was while making the film ‘3 Idiots’. His statement led to strong reactions online.
Soon after, internet users shared an old video in which Sonam Wangchuk spoke about his first meeting with Aamir Khan. The resurfaced clip led many social media users to question the actor’s recent remarks, with several accusing him of making an incorrect claim.
Several film personalities back protest
While Madhavan and Aamir Khan have faced questions online, several members of the film industry have openly expressed support for Sonam Wangchuk and the CJP-led protest.
Actors Imran Khan, Zeenat Aman, Anurag Kashyap, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Abhay Deol and Omi Vaidya are among those who have publicly backed the movement.
In addition, Shabana Azmi, Prakash Raj, Amol Parasher and Poonam Pandey travelled to Delhi and joined the march alongside the protesters.