Tear gas hung over Jantar Mantar, but somewhere between the smoke and the slogans, two familiar voices from Bollywood chose a side. Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia didn’t just watch the chaos unfold.
Image Source: Instagram
Actor Riteish Deshmukh took to X on Monday evening to support the students protesting in Delhi. He wrote that the youth of the country deserve to be heard “loud, clear, and without fear.” He called them the heartbeat of the nation’s democracy. Deshmukh also asked the administration to sit down and talk with the protesters instead of cracking down on them.
His wife, actor Genelia Deshmukh, backed the same message. She also pushed for dialogue between the government and the students, rather than a confrontation on the streets.
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The couple’s statements came just hours after violent clashes broke out between police and protesters in central Delhi.
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We stand in solidarity with the youth of our country.
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…— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) July 20, 2026
Delhi Police fired tear gas and used batons on Monday to stop thousands of students from marching toward Parliament. The protesters want Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. Their anger stems from repeated question paper leaks in major exams, including NEET-UG, which have derailed the plans of lakhs of students.
Police blocked the march near Jantar Mantar after refusing permission for it. Some protesters broke through barricades, and stone-pelting was reported in a few spots. A number of protesters were also hurt, and several were detained.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike for 21 days in support of the students. On July 18, police moved him to a hospital, reportedly without his consent. His supporters showed up at Jantar Mantar in large numbers on Monday, angry over how he was treated.
The protest movement, led by the youth group Cockroach Janta Party, has been going on for close to a month. Their core demand is scrapping the National Testing Agency altogether.
Monday’s clashes came right as Parliament’s Monsoon Session opened. Both houses were adjourned for the day because of the unrest outside. Metro services and mobile internet were reportedly cut in parts of the city during the protest.
Amnesty International raised concerns over the police response, calling it excessive force against a largely peaceful crowd.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the government over the crackdown and repeated his call for Pradhan to step down. He pointed to the scale of the alleged exam leaks and the number of students affected. Union Health Minister JP Nadda met protest representatives and said this was the first time the government had received a proposal for talks.
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