Salman Khan has publicly condemned the violence against students in Delhi, issuing a statement on Instagram that described the police action during the 20 July ‘Chalo Sansad’ march as “deeply upsetting”. He said his “heart goes out to the students and their families who were hurt”, adding that the alleged NEET paper leak was a “serious matter” that required accountability rather than force. Khan also urged that the movement not be politicised, noting that the concerns raised by students deserved attention on merit.
His comments arrive as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement continues to mobilise students nationwide. The collective, which has become a central organising force behind the protests, has framed the alleged NEET leak as part of a wider failure in the education system. The Delhi march, supported by thousands of students and activists, has drawn significant scrutiny after videos of the police response circulated widely.
A number of prominent figures from the entertainment industry have echoed Khan’s stance. Naseeruddin Shah released a video expressing anger at the crackdown, while Ratna Pathak Shah voiced solidarity and said she and her husband would continue to stand with students. Arijit Singh criticised the use of force in a sharply worded post on X, and Pa Ranjith described the demonstrations as the “collective anger of a generation”.
Bhumi Pednekar, Sonakshi Sinha, Diljit Dosanjh, Huma Qureshi, Saqib Saleem, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia D’Souza, Rohit Saraf, Sonam Bajwa and Vishal Dadlani have also condemned the violence. Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj joined protesters at Jantar Mantar, while Sonu Sood appealed for compassion, saying students needed “hugs, not batons”. Preity Zinta called for dialogue between authorities and protest leaders.
The breadth of celebrity engagement underscores the scale of public concern surrounding the alleged exam leak and the response to the protests, with several voices emphasising restraint, transparency and accountability as investigations continue.