Anupam Kher backs students, warns against political opportunists hijacking protest

Anupam Kher backed students protesting over the NEET paper leak and education reform. He urged them to keep the movement free of political opportunists as the Jantar Mantar protest continued.

In Short

• Anupam Kher supported students protesting NEET exam irregularities
• He warned against political opportunists hijacking the movement
• Kher called student protests the true voice of society

Actor Anupam Kher on Wednesday addressed students protesting across the country over irregularities in the NEET examination, extending his support to their demands for education reforms and accountability. However, he also cautioned them against allowing people with political agendas to hijack their movement.

Kher, who has often spoken on issues of national importance, said speaking up, protesting and asking questions are healthy signs of a democracy. Calling students the future of the nation, the 71-year-old also hinted that the ongoing protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar was at risk of being influenced by political interests.

The veteran actor said he understood the students' frustration because he had once been a student with dreams and aspirations of his own. "In my view, student movements are the truest voice of society. They are not driven by self-interest. They are motivated by concern for their future, by the desire to protect their rights, and by the dream of building a better nation. That is why I wholeheartedly stand with you," he said in Hindi.

Kher, however, warned that the movement had begun attracting political opportunists from outside. "The moment outsiders begin entering your movement, political opportunists who make it a point to appear at every protest, people whose goal is not your cause but their own agenda, that is the moment you must become cautious," he said.

The actor urged students not to mistake every form of support for genuine solidarity.

"You may feel that the more people who join your movement, the stronger it becomes. But that is not always true. Very often, those same people turn your greatest strength into your greatest weakness. They do not become your voice. They start to misuse your voice. They do not come because they feel your pain. They come to build their own politics on the foundation of your suffering," he said.

He said such people eventually dilute the movement's original purpose. "Gradually, the issue stops being yours. The cameras become theirs. The slogans become theirs. The purpose becomes theirs. And the loss is yours. Your truth gets pushed into the background. Your struggle must remain your own. Do not let it become a platform for someone else's ambitions," he added.

Reiterating the importance of dissent in a democracy, Kher said citizens have every right to question those in power, but they must also protect the integrity of their movements. "In a democracy, it is your right to ask questions. It is your right to protest. It is your right to express yourselves fearlessly and firmly. But it is equally your responsibility to ensure that your voice is not taken over by someone else," he said.

Calling students "the greatest asset of any nation," Kher added: "Your energy, your honesty, and your idealism are your real strength. Do not allow yourselves to become tools in someone else's hands." He concluded his message by reaffirming his support for the students.

"I stand with you - today and always. I want you to speak fearlessly, but on your own terms, guided by your own conscience and with your self-respect intact," he said.

Kher's statement comes two days after violence broke out during the students' Chalo Sansad march towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. While students alleged they were beaten by Delhi Police during the crackdown, police also claimed that several personnel were attacked by protesters.

The march was part of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest, which has been ongoing for over 23 days at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The movement gained further momentum after educator and activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest and began an indefinite hunger strike.

The protesters have been demanding sweeping reforms in India's education system, accountability over the NEET paper leak, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protest continues at Jantar Mantar, with more students, activists and public figures joining the movement in solidarity.

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