Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh has expressed support for the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and demands for education reforms, urging authorities to listen to students instead of suppressing their voices, reports Times of India.
His statement came after Monday’s Sansad Chalo march from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar towards Parliament during the opening day of the Monsoon Session, where clashes broke out between protesters and security personnel.
Through a series of Instagram Stories, Diljit condemned the handling of the demonstrators, writing, “What happened today was very wrong. Students should not have been treated like this.”
“I request the authorities to listen to the students’ demands. The voice of the people is the voice of God.”
The singer also acknowledged that his stance could once again attract criticism, recalling the backlash he faced for supporting the 2020-21 farmers’ protests.
“I have already been labelled an ‘anti-national’ many times. Even now, I know I will be called anti-national again.”
“After the farmers’ protest, I faced a lot of backlash and legal problems that I still cannot even discuss. The rest, God is watching everything,” he wrote.
The CJP agitation is demanding education reforms, action over alleged examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The movement has also rallied around activist Sonam Wangchuk, who continues an indefinite fast from Safdarjung Hospital.
Despite heavy rain, thousands gathered at Jantar Mantar before marching towards Parliament.
The protest later turned confrontational as police used tear gas and a lathi charge after demonstrators attempted to cross barricades.
Following the march, a CJP delegation submitted a memorandum to Union Health Minister JP Nadda seeking Wangchuk’s release from hospital, Pradhan’s resignation and compensation for families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide after the reported paper leak.
Government sources said no commitments were made.
Diljit’s remarks add to a growing list of celebrities supporting the movement, including Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Sonu Sood, Vir Das, Dia Mirza, Soha Ali Khan, Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj.
Meanwhile, Kangana Ranaut and Hema Malini have publicly backed the central government.
On the work front, Diljit recently spoke about his film Satluj, saying there were aspects of the project and its release that he still could not discuss openly.
