Celebrity Support for Student Protests in India is Growing

Following the police intervention in the "Sansad Chalo" (March to Parliament) protests held in India, numerous Bollywood celebrities declared their support for the students. Prominent figures such as Preity Zinta, Diljit Dosanjh, and Pooja Bhatt appealed to officials via social media, emphasizing the need to listen to the youth and establish a dialogue. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as protesting exam paper leaks and corruption in education.

Famous actress Pooja Bhatt and actress Revathy harshly criticized the police's disproportionate use of force against the students. Revathy drew attention to the severity of the situation, stating that this violence by security forces reminded her of the British violence during India's independence struggle. Meanwhile, Preity Zinta, in a message addressed to climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk, whom she supported, called for an end to the action, stating that the hunger strike poses a danger to his health.

Although a large majority of the celebrities showed solidarity with the students, the reactions were not all in the same direction. Television actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee expressed her concern that the movement has started to drift away from its original purpose. Bhattacharjee warned that if the protests become vulnerable to manipulation by external forces, a legitimate cause such as the demand for educational reform could be weakened.