Actors Ananya Panday and Sara Ali Khan have spoken up in support of the student protests that have gripped Delhi this month.
The protests began after allegations surfaced that papers for NEET, the country’s medical entrance exam, had been leaked and sold. Millions of students had to retake the test. The group leading the charge, called the Cockroach Janta Party, has been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Anger grew after activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, was forcibly taken to a hospital by police. That moment turned a local protest into one of the largest youth demonstrations Delhi has seen in years.
On July 20, thousands of mostly young protesters tried to march toward Parliament while the monsoon session was underway. Police responded with batons and tear gas. Reports say more than a hundred students were hurt in the clashes. Videos of the crackdown spread fast online, pulling in even more support from people who had stayed on the sidelines before.
Protesters have said they will not stop until their demands are met. Days after the crackdown, crowds returned to Jantar Mantar, showing no sign of backing down.
What the actors said
Ananya Panday wrote that Gen Z has often been misjudged, but this moment shows who the generation really is. She said young people are not asking for shortcuts. They are asking for fairness to be normal, not rare. She added that questioning authority is not disrespect and speaking up is not rebellion. It is hope. She ended her post with “Jai Hind.”
Sara Ali Khan called students the heart of the nation’s future. She said their courage reminds everyone what real patriotism looks like. She asked people to listen to the youth with open hearts and stand beside them. She also said she has faith that the government will eventually deliver justice.