As of now, actor R Madhavan has publicly supported the nationwide student movement led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to hold accountable those responsible for the NEET paper leak and other alleged exam problems.
Madhavan issued the statement as the protests have attracted growing public and political attention as students and people within the student body have begun to call for action against those who they claim are undermining the quality of competitive examinations.
As an actor who believes in India’s youth, he said that he knew the concerns about the alleged examination irregularities and he felt that those in the country were genuine.
Madhavan claimed that an education system should be based on confidence, fairness and equal opportunity. Paper leaks can damage the trust of students and families who work hard for years to prepare for competitive exams, he added.
He instructed the government to ensure that anyone who is found to be involved in examination irregularities is brought to justice quickly and decisively. Madhavan said the punishment should be strong enough to make sure that no one attempts to jeopardise the future of India’s youth in the near future.
The actor also expressed confidence in the government’s capacity to address the problem. Referring to previous admissions of lapses, he said he hoped the authorities would take action, strengthen the examination system and protect the integrity of education.
Madhavan told students directly not to allow the failure of one system to define their future. The talent, perseverance and character of the students are far greater than any institution, and they should keep working hard and believing in themselves, he said.
The actor commended students who were peacefully demanding reforms. At the same time, he said, people should be on guard against vested interests that would seek to divert the movement from its primary purpose.
Madhavan's comments came hours after a picture from the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) went viral on social media. The door outside the FTII chairman's cabin was reportedly covered with the Gayab meme and a poster reading “NEET for Sale” as students questioned the perceived silence of the institute's leadership on the ongoing agitation.
The actor is the latest prominent figure from the film industry to comment on the issue. Salman Khan had earlier described paper leaks as a “very serious issue” and warned that the movement should not be politically hijacked.
Other actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Abhay Deol, Sonakshi Sinha and Riteish Deshmukh have also shown support for students and urged action over examination-related concerns.
The increased attention of celebrities to the student movement has raised the visibility of the movement in Delhi and across the country.
A basic demand of the protesters is accountability and better safeguards for competitive examinations. The agitation is currently focused on examination security, institutional responsibility and how to ensure students do not suffer from alleged failures of the system.
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