Growth is fair education: Rajkummar Rao on CJP's students protest, police violence

Rajkummar Rao backed the student protest at Jantar Mantar and urged peace and dialogue. His post adds to growing public support as students press for education reforms and accountability.

In Short

• Rajkummar Rao backed the student protest with a message of peace and dialogue
• He said every young voice deserves dignity, fairness and respect
• Rao joins a growing list of celebrities supporting the student movement

Actor Rajkummar Rao on Wednesday called for peace, dialogue and compassion amid the Cockroach Janata Party's student-led protest over alleged 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 grew

What began as a student-led campaign over alleged exam irregularities later grew into a larger protest centred on education reform and accountability. Over the past few weeks, the movement has shifted from an online campaign to a sustained on-ground demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

A major turning point came when education reformer Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation with an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the students. His participation gave the movement greater national visibility. Wangchuk repeatedly called for peaceful demonstrations and urged the government to engage with students instead of ignoring their concerns.

Wangchuk's hospitalisation and protests

As Wangchuk's health deteriorated, Delhi Police shifted him to a hospital, triggering 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 then intensified with the CJP's Sansad Chalo call, as 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 quickly on social media and brought the protests into the national spotlight.

Film industry support

Members of the entertainment industry also backed the students. Actors Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj visited the protest site in Delhi and were among the celebrities present on the ground. Many others extended support online, 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.

Earlier in the day, Preity Zinta also voiced concern over the ongoing protest and called for educational reforms. She said peaceful demonstrations should not be hijacked to create chaos and urged meaningful and constructive dialogue between the government and protesters.

What the students are demanding

Despite the growing support, protesters have maintained that their demands remain unchanged. They have called for reforms in the examination system, accountability for alleged irregularities and a direct response from the government.

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