Naseeruddin Shah, a veteran actor, has publicly backed the Cockroach Janta Party protests in Delhi, adding his voice to a movement that has attracted national attention. The protests were initiated by a group of Gen Z students and unemployed graduates after a judge referred to unemployed graduates as 'cockroaches' in court proceedings. The controversial comment became a rallying point for demonstrators, who have since expanded their demands to include the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET examination paper leak and broader reforms in India's education system.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Jantar Mantar before organizing a march to Parliament on July 20. According to police, the march was stopped by the authorities, and clashes erupted between police and protesters as they used tear gas and lathi charges to disperse the crowd. 118 police personnel were injured in the clashes, and some protesters were wounded, officials said.
Naseeruddin Shah, for his part, took issue with the way the demonstrations were handled and the response of the authorities. The actor voiced his opposition to using force against the demonstrators and stressed the importance of protecting democratic rights, including peaceful dissent.
His comments quickly became a trending topic on social media. Those who support Shah defended him, saying he is doing what he believes is necessary to address problems affecting students and unemployed people and that public figures are supposed to speak up for the people.
But Shah’s remarks were also sharply criticized by many right-wing media personalities and social media users who accused Shah of selective outrage and questioned his position on other incidents of public unrest. The polarizing response to Shah's words only demonstrates the polarized nature of public discourse whenever celebrities comment on politically sensitive topics.
The demonstrations have still received support from several opposition leaders who have pushed for greater transparency in examinations, accountability for reported irregularities, and reforms to improve the education system.
The Cockroach Janta Party protests have grown from a response to a controversial judicial comment into a broader movement focusing on unemployment, examination integrity, and educational reform. With people like Naseeruddin Shah bringing the issue back to the national scene, the topic continues to fuel debate across political and social circles.
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