Bollywood star Salman Khan has finally spoken up on the nationwide student protests over exam paper leaks. The actor took to social media with a lengthy post expressing solidarity with protesting students while urging that the issue not be turned into a political battle.
In his post, Salman Khan called the movement peaceful and said he felt sad that it turned violent at some point. He extended sympathy to students and families who were hurt during the protests.
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The actor praised young Indians for uniting over the paper leak issue and credited parents for backing their children. He described the protest as courageous and said this generation is driven towards building a stronger, more educated India.
It was such a peaceful movement, feel so sad that it had to take a violent turn. My heart goes out to the students and their families who were hurt. Paper leak is a very serious issue, and I am glad to know n see that the kids of our country have come together for a better…
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 22, 2026
Salman Khan also made a clear appeal. He said this issue is between students and the educational system, and should not be hijacked politically. He said credit should go only to the students. Also, he added that he hopes the government will support the cause and strengthen the education system, calling it a win-win situation. He ended the post with a wish for education to become as trendy and aspirational as fashion, so that India turns into a global hub for learning.
Background of the protests
Salman Khan’s post comes amid growing unrest linked to the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. Protests have spread from Delhi to smaller towns and cities across the country in recent days.
Trouble intensified after the Cockroach Janta Party’s Chalo Sansad march, where police used force on protesters marching toward Parliament. Delhi Police fired tear gas and used batons to stop thousands of students from marching toward Parliament. The protesters have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Amnesty International raised concerns over the police response, calling it excessive force against a largely peaceful crowd. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the government over the crackdown and repeated his demand for Pradhan’s resignation.
The anger has since spread far beyond Delhi. Students have taken to the streets in Shimla, Itanagar, Goa, Kerala’s Thrissur, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and even Ladakh. Political parties have also joined protests in cities like Chandigarh and Hyderabad.
Officials have responded differently across states. In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis accused opposition parties of hijacking the protests for political gain. He maintained that authorised, peaceful protests would be allowed but warned against violence.