Snehashish roy
Veteran actor Anupam Kher has expressed support for students protesting under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), while cautioning them against allowing political groups or vested interests to take control of their movement. In a video shared on social media, Kher backed the students’ right to raise their concerns but urged them to ensure that their agitation remained focused on its original purpose and was not exploited by external forces.
Breaking his silence on the ongoing demonstrations at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, Kher said the concerns being raised by students deserved to be heard. He acknowledged that young people have every right to voice their grievances in a democracy and emphasised that peaceful protests are an important part of public discourse. However, he also warned that movements of this scale often attract individuals or organisations seeking to use them for political gain.
In his message, the actor appealed directly to the protesters, saying they should remain alert and not allow “external parties” to hijack their campaign. Stressing that the movement belonged to the students, Kher said nobody should misuse their voice or divert attention from the issues they were trying to highlight. According to him, preserving the integrity of the protest was essential if its objectives were to be achieved.
The protests have intensified over the past few weeks, with thousands of students gathering in Delhi to demand reforms in the education system and accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak controversy. The demonstrations gained further momentum after education reformer Sonam Wangchuk joined the movement and began an indefinite hunger strike. Wangchuk was recently hospitalised after his health deteriorated, but organisers have maintained that the campaign will continue until their demands are addressed.
Kher’s statement comes at a time when several members of the film industry have publicly commented on the student movement. Actors including Riteish Deshmukh, Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vishal Dadlani, Prakash Raj, Sonu Sood, Dia Mirza and Genelia Deshmukh have either voiced support for the protesters, criticised the police action during the “Sansad Chalo” march or urged the government to engage in dialogue with students. Their interventions have helped keep the issue in the public spotlight.
Unlike some celebrities who focused primarily on condemning the alleged use of force against demonstrators, Kher adopted a more measured approach. While reaffirming that the students’ demands deserved attention, he urged them to remain united and avoid becoming instruments in broader political battles. He said that if the protest was driven solely by students’ concerns, its credibility would remain intact and its message would be stronger.
The actor’s remarks have generated mixed reactions on social media. Some users praised him for supporting the students while also advising them to safeguard the movement from political interference. Others argued that any large public protest naturally attracts political attention and questioned whether such warnings could dilute the focus on the issues being raised. Despite differing opinions, Kher’s message quickly gained traction online, adding another prominent voice to the ongoing national conversation surrounding education reforms.
Meanwhile, authorities have maintained that security measures during the protests were necessary to preserve law and order. Student leaders, however, continue to demand greater transparency in public examinations, systemic reforms in the education sector and accountability for those responsible for the alleged irregularities. Demonstrations in support of the movement have also been reported from several parts of the country.
As the agitation continues, Anupam Kher’s statement reflects a position that combines support for the students’ right to protest with a call for vigilance. By encouraging demonstrators to keep their movement independent and centred on its original objectives, the actor has added a nuanced perspective to the wider debate surrounding one of the country’s most closely watched student-led campaigns.