The
ongoing student protests across Delhi, Mumbai, and several other states have sparked strong reactions from celebrities. From Salman Khan to Alia Bhatt, many Bollywood stars have voiced their support for those affected by the NEET-UG paper leak case. Celebrities have also reacted to the alleged clash between the police and protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on July 20 during the Chalo Sansad march. Visuals showed the police resorting to a lathi-charge and tear gas to stop the crowd from crossing the barricades. Injuries were reported on both sides. Amid this, Shekhar Suman has voiced his support for the protesters.
Shekhar Suman Gets Emotional Talking About Jantar Mantar Incident
The actor and talk show host said, "Before beginning the show, I want to share something with all of you. What happened on 20 July at
Jantar Mantar in Delhi to those innocent, unarmed, helpless children was heartbreaking. The way they were beaten with batons, with such cruelty, brutality, and mercilessness, leaving them bloodied, has shaken me to my core. I haven’t slept for three days; I’ve only cried."Questioning the alleged action against the protesters, he asked what fault the young students had committed. He said that they had merely raised their voices against injustice and oppression, stood up for their rights, their future and the future of the country and demanded a
better education system. He added, "And instead of listening to them, they were lathi-charged and assaulted… In this difficult moment, I stand with every fearless youth, every coordinator, every young person, and every Indian whose heart beats for the dignity of this nation and who has the courage to speak out against injustice."
On his show, Shekhar also reflected on how young voices are often labelled as unruly, anti-national or incompetent. He said that any =attempts to silence them only make them stronger. He remarked that determination, rather than power, is what keeps them going. He also revealed that he had initially questioned whether the episode should be aired while the country was witnessing widespread student protests. However, he said that he eventually decided that the show had a duty to continue, adding that "the show must go on" and assuring the protesting students of his unwavering support.Recently, actress Jyotika also voiced her support for students and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Meanwhile,
Shabana Azmi, who couldn't attend the Mumbai protest due to swine flu, expressed her solidarity.
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