Snehashish roy
Singer Neha Bhasin has publicly criticised actor Bhumi Pednekar over her recent comments on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests, accusing her of focusing on the language used by protesters while remaining silent on allegations of police action against students. In a strongly worded Instagram post, Neha said selective outrage weakens meaningful public discourse and urged celebrities to either speak about the entire issue or refrain from commenting altogether.
The controversy stems from Bhumi Pednekar’s recent video in which she condemned the abusive language allegedly directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the protests over the NEET-UG paper leak. The actor said such language did not reflect India’s culture and appealed for civility, arguing that disagreement should never come at the cost of respect. Her statement, however, triggered widespread backlash on social media, with many users accusing her of ignoring the broader concerns raised by protesters.
Reacting to Bhumi’s statement, Neha Bhasin questioned why the actor had chosen to address only the protesters’ language instead of speaking about the alleged police crackdown. In her Instagram post, Neha wrote that she would have respected the Prime Minister more if there had been a stronger response to reports of students being beaten during the demonstrations. She further remarked, “Gooda nahi hai toh chup rehna best hai behen” (“If you don’t have the courage, it’s better to stay quiet, sister”), suggesting that partial commentary on sensitive issues does more harm than good.
Neha argued that public figures have a responsibility to acknowledge the full context of an issue rather than selectively highlighting one aspect of it. According to her, condemning abusive slogans without addressing allegations of violence against protesters creates an incomplete narrative. She also questioned whether empathy should extend equally to those injured during demonstrations.
Bhumi has not directly responded to Neha’s criticism. However, following the initial backlash, the actor shared another video expressing solidarity with a young protester who had reportedly received rape and death threats online. In the message, she called for empathy, rejected online abuse, and stressed that everyone ultimately wanted India’s progress regardless of political differences.
The exchange comes amid mounting scrutiny of Bhumi’s public statements. Earlier, her former acting coach Shruti Desai questioned the actor’s recent calls for respectful behaviour, recalling that Bhumi had allegedly been dismissive towards her teachers during her acting school days. That criticism further fuelled online debate about the actor’s comments on civility and respect.
Neha’s intervention has added another celebrity voice to the increasingly polarised conversation surrounding the CJP-led protests. Over the past few weeks, several actors, singers and public personalities have expressed differing opinions on the demonstrations, with debates extending beyond the alleged paper leak to broader questions about protest culture, political accountability and freedom of expression. As reactions continue to pour in, Bhumi’s remarks and Neha’s response have become the latest flashpoint in an ongoing national conversation that has increasingly drawn in members of the entertainment industry.