Growth is fair education: Rajkummar Rao on CJP's students protest, police violence
Actor Rajkummar Rao urged peace, dialogue and compassion as the Cockroach Janata Party-led student protest widened in Delhi. His appeal came amid police violence allegations, celebrity backing and continued demands for exam reform.
Actor Rajkummar Rao on Wednesday called for peace, dialogue and compassion amid the Cockroach Janata Party's student-led protest over examination irregularities. He said the country’s growth rests on fair education, as the agitation continued to draw national attention following allegations of police violence and a widening show of support from public figures.
Rao’s statement came as the protest grew into one of the biggest youth agitations seen in recent years. Led by the CJP, the movement has brought thousands of students, activists and supporters to Jantar Mantar in Delhi. It has also received backing from opposition leaders and members of the film industry, while the students have continued to press for examination reforms, accountability and a direct response from the government.
In an Instagram post, Rao wrote, “When young people feel unheard, it is a reminder that society must listen. Every voice deserves to be heard with dignity, fairness and respect. At the same time, peace must remain our greatest strength. Violence, from any side, only deepens wounds and takes us further away from meaningful solutions. This is a moment for dialogue and compassion (sic).”
He added, “Let students express themselves responsibly. Let authorities respond with empathy, openness and a genuine willingness to listen. Real and lasting change is built through conversation, not confrontation. That is what is needed now—more than ever. All of us collectively want one thing: growth for our nation, and the foundation for that growth is fair education (sic).”
How the protest expanded
The protest over exam irregularities and demand for education reforms has moved from an online campaign to a sustained demonstration on the ground at Jantar Mantar over the past couple of days.
A major turning point came when education reformer Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation and began an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the students. His participation gave the movement wider national visibility. Wangchuk repeatedly called for peaceful demonstrations and urged the government to engage with the students instead of ignoring their concerns.
As Wangchuk's health deteriorated, Delhi Police shifted him to a hospital, prompting anger among protesters. CJP leaders accused the authorities of cracking down on a peaceful movement and called for round-the-clock vigils at Jantar Mantar. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, also remained involved in the demonstrations as supporters continued to gather outside the protest site.
The agitation intensified further after the CJP gave a Sansad Chalo call and protesters attempted to march towards Parliament during the Monsoon Session. The demonstrations saw clashes with police, allegations of lathi-charge and detentions, with both protesters and police personnel reporting injuries. Images and videos from Delhi spread rapidly on social media and pushed the protest into the national spotlight.
Sehban Azim's account on police violence
Actor Sehban Azim also alleged that he was injured during the protest. Speaking to Mid-day, he claimed he was hit by police while trying to protect two women who had travelled with him from Mumbai.
Azim alleged that protesters were stopped before they could reach Jantar Mantar and claimed the police had barricaded the area before launching a lathi-charge. "We didn't even get to reach inside Jantar Mantar where the protest was actually happening. The police had put barricades all around and trapped us in the middle and started hitting us. They weren't even bothered who they were hitting, be it young kids, women, nobody," he claimed. He further alleged that the action was deliberate and aimed at forcing the crowd to disperse.
Azim also claimed that several protesters were injured and that many were left bleeding. He said education remained difficult to access for students from weaker economic backgrounds and claimed that many families take loans to fund studies.
Support from the film industry
Support for the students has also come from the entertainment industry. Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj visited the protest site in Delhi and were among the celebrities present on the ground. Others, including Sonu Sood, Vir Das, Dia Mirza, Soha Ali Khan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Bhumi Pednekar, Huma Qureshi, Nandita Das, Aayush Sharma and screenwriter Sutapa Sikdar, extended support online.
Earlier in the day, Preity Zinta also voiced concern over the protest and called for educational reforms. The actor said peaceful demonstrations should not be hijacked to create chaos. She urged meaningful and constructive dialogue between the government and the protesters.
What the students want
Even as the movement has widened and drawn support from public figures, the students have maintained that their demands have not changed. They continue to seek reforms in the examination system, accountability for the irregularities and a direct response from the government.
Actor Rajkummar Rao on Wednesday called for peace, dialogue and compassion amid the Cockroach Janata Party's student-led protest over examination irregularities. He said the country’s growth rests on fair education, as the agitation continued to draw national attention following allegations of police violence and a widening show of support from public figures.
Rao’s statement came as the protest grew into one of the biggest youth agitations seen in recent years. Led by the CJP, the movement has brought thousands of students, activists and supporters to Jantar Mantar in Delhi. It has also received backing from opposition leaders and members of the film industry, while the students have continued to press for examination reforms, accountability and a direct response from the government.
In an Instagram post, Rao wrote, “When young people feel unheard, it is a reminder that society must listen. Every voice deserves to be heard with dignity, fairness and respect. At the same time, peace must remain our greatest strength. Violence, from any side, only deepens wounds and takes us further away from meaningful solutions. This is a moment for dialogue and compassion (sic).”
He added, “Let students express themselves responsibly. Let authorities respond with empathy, openness and a genuine willingness to listen. Real and lasting change is built through conversation, not confrontation. That is what is needed now—more than ever. All of us collectively want one thing: growth for our nation, and the foundation for that growth is fair education (sic).”
How the protest expanded
The protest over exam irregularities and demand for education reforms has moved from an online campaign to a sustained demonstration on the ground at Jantar Mantar over the past couple of days.
A major turning point came when education reformer Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation and began an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the students. His participation gave the movement wider national visibility. Wangchuk repeatedly called for peaceful demonstrations and urged the government to engage with the students instead of ignoring their concerns.
As Wangchuk's health deteriorated, Delhi Police shifted him to a hospital, prompting anger among protesters. CJP leaders accused the authorities of cracking down on a peaceful movement and called for round-the-clock vigils at Jantar Mantar. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, also remained involved in the demonstrations as supporters continued to gather outside the protest site.
The agitation intensified further after the CJP gave a Sansad Chalo call and protesters attempted to march towards Parliament during the Monsoon Session. The demonstrations saw clashes with police, allegations of lathi-charge and detentions, with both protesters and police personnel reporting injuries. Images and videos from Delhi spread rapidly on social media and pushed the protest into the national spotlight.
Sehban Azim's account on police violence
Actor Sehban Azim also alleged that he was injured during the protest. Speaking to Mid-day, he claimed he was hit by police while trying to protect two women who had travelled with him from Mumbai.
Azim alleged that protesters were stopped before they could reach Jantar Mantar and claimed the police had barricaded the area before launching a lathi-charge. "We didn't even get to reach inside Jantar Mantar where the protest was actually happening. The police had put barricades all around and trapped us in the middle and started hitting us. They weren't even bothered who they were hitting, be it young kids, women, nobody," he claimed. He further alleged that the action was deliberate and aimed at forcing the crowd to disperse.
Azim also claimed that several protesters were injured and that many were left bleeding. He said education remained difficult to access for students from weaker economic backgrounds and claimed that many families take loans to fund studies.
Support from the film industry
Support for the students has also come from the entertainment industry. Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj visited the protest site in Delhi and were among the celebrities present on the ground. Others, including Sonu Sood, Vir Das, Dia Mirza, Soha Ali Khan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Bhumi Pednekar, Huma Qureshi, Nandita Das, Aayush Sharma and screenwriter Sutapa Sikdar, extended support online.
Earlier in the day, Preity Zinta also voiced concern over the protest and called for educational reforms. The actor said peaceful demonstrations should not be hijacked to create chaos. She urged meaningful and constructive dialogue between the government and the protesters.
What the students want
Even as the movement has widened and drawn support from public figures, the students have maintained that their demands have not changed. They continue to seek reforms in the examination system, accountability for the irregularities and a direct response from the government.
Actor Rajkummar Rao on Wednesday called for peace, dialogue and compassion amid the Cockroach Janata Party's student-led protest over examination irregularities. He said the country’s growth rests on fair education, as the agitation continued to draw national attention following allegations of police violence and a widening show of support from public figures.
Rao’s statement came as the protest grew into one of the biggest youth agitations seen in recent years. Led by the CJP, the movement has brought thousands of students, activists and supporters to Jantar Mantar in Delhi. It has also received backing from opposition leaders and members of the film industry, while the students have continued to press for examination reforms, accountability and a direct response from the government.
In an Instagram post, Rao wrote, “When young people feel unheard, it is a reminder that society must listen. Every voice deserves to be heard with dignity, fairness and respect. At the same time, peace must remain our greatest strength. Violence, from any side, only deepens wounds and takes us further away from meaningful solutions. This is a moment for dialogue and compassion (sic).”
He added, “Let students express themselves responsibly. Let authorities respond with empathy, openness and a genuine willingness to listen. Real and lasting change is built through conversation, not confrontation. That is what is needed now—more than ever. All of us collectively want one thing: growth for our nation, and the foundation for that growth is fair education (sic).”
How the protest expanded
The protest over exam irregularities and demand for education reforms has moved from an online campaign to a sustained demonstration on the ground at Jantar Mantar over the past couple of days.
A major turning point came when education reformer Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation and began an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the students. His participation gave the movement wider national visibility. Wangchuk repeatedly called for peaceful demonstrations and urged the government to engage with the students instead of ignoring their concerns.
As Wangchuk's health deteriorated, Delhi Police shifted him to a hospital, prompting anger among protesters. CJP leaders accused the authorities of cracking down on a peaceful movement and called for round-the-clock vigils at Jantar Mantar. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, also remained involved in the demonstrations as supporters continued to gather outside the protest site.
The agitation intensified further after the CJP gave a Sansad Chalo call and protesters attempted to march towards Parliament during the Monsoon Session. The demonstrations saw clashes with police, allegations of lathi-charge and detentions, with both protesters and police personnel reporting injuries. Images and videos from Delhi spread rapidly on social media and pushed the protest into the national spotlight.
Sehban Azim's account on police violence
Actor Sehban Azim also alleged that he was injured during the protest. Speaking to Mid-day, he claimed he was hit by police while trying to protect two women who had travelled with him from Mumbai.
Azim alleged that protesters were stopped before they could reach Jantar Mantar and claimed the police had barricaded the area before launching a lathi-charge. "We didn't even get to reach inside Jantar Mantar where the protest was actually happening. The police had put barricades all around and trapped us in the middle and started hitting us. They weren't even bothered who they were hitting, be it young kids, women, nobody," he claimed. He further alleged that the action was deliberate and aimed at forcing the crowd to disperse.
Azim also claimed that several protesters were injured and that many were left bleeding. He said education remained difficult to access for students from weaker economic backgrounds and claimed that many families take loans to fund studies.
Support from the film industry
Support for the students has also come from the entertainment industry. Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj visited the protest site in Delhi and were among the celebrities present on the ground. Others, including Sonu Sood, Vir Das, Dia Mirza, Soha Ali Khan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Bhumi Pednekar, Huma Qureshi, Nandita Das, Aayush Sharma and screenwriter Sutapa Sikdar, extended support online.
Earlier in the day, Preity Zinta also voiced concern over the protest and called for educational reforms. The actor said peaceful demonstrations should not be hijacked to create chaos. She urged meaningful and constructive dialogue between the government and the protesters.
What the students want
Even as the movement has widened and drawn support from public figures, the students have maintained that their demands have not changed. They continue to seek reforms in the examination system, accountability for the irregularities and a direct response from the government.
