NEW DELHI: Bollywood stars and other prominent Indian celebrities have come under growing criticism for remaining largely silent during nationwide student-led protests that have emerged as one of the biggest public challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government in recent years.
Hundreds of thousands of young people have joined demonstrations organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), demanding accountability over examination paper leaks that affected millions of students.
Many protesters expressed disappointment that leading actors, cricketers and public figures had failed to publicly support their movement despite enjoying widespread popularity among young Indians.
The protests have intensified following cases of police action against demonstrators, including the use of batons and tear gas during marches in the capital.
The movement has already secured the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a key demand of protesters following the leak of a national medical entrance examination that forced around two million candidates to retake the test.
While a handful of celebrities eventually commented on the demonstrations, many avoided directly criticising the government. Actor Salman Khan urged students to return home, saying the situation was under control, while actor Anupam Kher warned against political elements exploiting the protests.
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Several other prominent figures, including cricketers and film stars, also faced criticism on social media for what protesters described as their reluctance to take a clear public position.
Observers said some celebrities may be unwilling to risk their careers, commercial endorsements or future projects by openly confronting the government.
However, a few prominent voices broke ranks. Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah criticised the film industry’s silence, while actor Shabana Azmi joined demonstrators in Delhi and called on authorities to listen to students rather than suppress their demands.
The debate has renewed questions over the role of public figures during periods of political unrest and whether influential celebrities have a responsibility to speak out on issues affecting their supporters.
