Tovino Thomas, Revathy, Pa Ranjith condemn police action on CJP student protesters

Actors Tovino Thomas, Revathy Asha and director Pa Ranjith condemned the police action on CJP student protesters at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Their statements linked the protests over NEET irregularities to wider demands for accountability and education reform.

In Short

• Tovino Thomas said peaceful student protests should not face repressive force
• He questioned what students had done to deserve such treatment
• Revathy Asha urged dialogue, saying children's future deserves careful attention

Several film personalities, including Malayalam actor Tovino Thomas, veteran actor Revathy Asha and Tamil filmmaker Pa Ranjith, have condemned the police action against students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar led by Cockroach Janatra Party (CJP). The nationwide protests, led by students and supported by parents and citizens, are demanding accountability and resignation from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and sweeping reforms in India's education system following irregularities in the NEET examination.

Tovino Thomas was among the latest celebrities to react, calling the police action against peaceful protesters unacceptable. Sharing a note on Instagram, he wrote, "Right and wrong may be relative, but this is certainly NOT the way to handle a peaceful protest."

The actor said suppressing students' voices amounted to crushing the country's future. He posted, "When the future generation of a nation speaks up, and their voices are met with repressive force, it is the future itself that is being stamped down. It is faith in democracy that is being drained away."

Questioning the police action, Tovino asked what the students had done to deserve such treatment – "What did these students do wrong? Did they destroy property? Did they resort to violence? What exactly did they do to deserve this treatment?"

Extending his support to those protesting peacefully across the country, he added: "To every person protesting for a just cause, peacefully, in any part of our country, I extend my wholehearted solidarity. The right to dissent is not a threat to democracy; in fact it is one of its foundations."

Anticipating criticism over his political stand, Tovino clarified that his views stemmed from humanity rather than politics.

"And to anyone about to question my sense of nationalism, I know myself better than you do. This goes beyond politics, religion, and every other form of division. My politics is humanity. My belief is peace," he posted.

Actor Revathy Asha also voiced her support, approaching the issue from the perspective of a parent. In a statement on Instagram, she wrote, "As a parent, I believe education shapes not just our children's future, but the future of our nation. It's important to pay attention to voices that raise concerns about the future of education. Whether we agree with every viewpoint or not, the future of our children deserves thoughtful dialogue."

Reacting to the reports of violence during the protest, she said: "Watching reports of violence during a peaceful march is heartbreaking. Praying for the safety, strength and courage of everyone involved. May wisdom, compassion, and dialogue guide every decision because children's future deserves nothing less."

In the caption accompanying her post, Revathy elaborated on what she believed the protesters were demanding.

"What is the ASK? safe guard the future of the children, the future of our country by reforming the Educational System of our country - students are protesting in spite of being beaten, grown boys are crying thinking of what will happen to their future, women are in tears looking at the heartless violence their kids are facing, fathers are worried about their kids future, girls are begging to stop the violence inflicted on them LEADERS we voted entrusting in them the future of our children and our country are silent - hear them out, have a dialogue, agree to disagree but sit down and TALK they deserve to be HEARD with SONAM WANGCHUK and EVERY STUDENT IN THE PROTEST!!! (sic)," she posted.

Filmmaker Pa Ranjith, in a detailed post on X, described the protests as a larger movement demanding accountability from the government. "What began as a demand for accountability has become the collective anger and agitation of a generation that refuses to accept a government which continues to gamble with the futures of millions of young people," he began his note.

He said the movement had spread across the country and reflected a growing demand for accountability. He wrote, "From the streets of Delhi to protests across different states, from artists like @Arivubeing raising their voice against NEET leading up to meeting the @CMOTamilnadu, all students, parents, workers and citizens demanding justice across the country, making it a people's movement. It reflects a shared angst and demand for accountability from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the Union Government for the repeated failures of our public education system."

Ranjith also condemned the alleged police crackdown on the demonstrators: "The brutal use of violence to crackdown on peaceful protesters only exposes the government's unwillingness to answer legitimate democratic questions. Repression cannot become a substitute for accountability."

He welcomed the solidarity shown by Indians living abroad. He wrote, "It is equally heartening to witness young people across the Indian diaspora standing in solidarity and raising their voices globally. This struggle belongs to every young person whose future is being placed at stake," he posted.

The filmmaker also expressed support for Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad: "My unwavering solidarity with Brother Azad @BhimArmyChief as he continues his dharna in the parliament premises against this police violence and in defence of our constitutional right to dissent."

Calling on artists and citizens to stand together, Ranjith concluded: "This is the time for us as artists, activists, students, trade unions, people's movements and every citizen who believes in democracy to stand in unequivocal solidarity with the protests unfolding across the country. I urge we raise our voices demanding accountability, justice and a public education system that serves its people not one that repeatedly fails them."

The CJP protesters have been at the protest site at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since June 6, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the irregularities in the NEET exam. Educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike there before he was detained and shifted to a hospital citing deteriating health condition.

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