Actress Jyotika asks Dharmendra Pradhan to ‘step down’ over exam irregularities
Actress Jyotika on Saturday extended support to the students protesting over the NEET paper leak and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He also called for accountability and reform in the country’s education system.
Actress Jyotika on Saturday urged Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to step down over the alleged NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities. As the cockroach Janata Party-led students’ protest against exam irregularities gains momentum, the 47-year-old said she stands with students, accountability, democratic values and reforms in education.
System The actor is among several film personalities who have spoken out in support of the protesters. Students have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for almost a month. The movement has since spread outside the capital and demands for Pradhan’s resignation have intensified after he faced lathi charge and tear gas by security forces when he marched towards Parliament on July 20.
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Sharing a note, Jyotika wrote, “Dharmendra Pradhan step down. Resign. I stand with the students and the future of our country! I stand with accountability! I stand for a democratic India! I stand for a reformed education! Sonam Wangchuk. Abhijeet Dubki and Saurav Das, as mothers we want our children to be like you.”
Addressing young Indians he said, “Proud of you Gen Z for being unfiltered. You have proved that together ‘we’ are India. Thank you for breaking the pressure. Thank you for making us fearless. CJP (sic).”
protest and demand
Students have been protesting at Jantar Mantar for almost a month demanding Pradhan’s resignation over the alleged NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities. He has also called for comprehensive reforms in India’s education system. Activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the movement and started a hunger strike to press for the demands.
On July 20, CJP had called for ‘Sansad Chalo’ march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament. Thousands of people arrived at the protest site in March, but security forces resorted to baton charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd heading towards Parliament. Videos circulated on social media showed several protesters being beaten. However, Delhi Police said the use of force had become necessary after the protesters turned violent and started pelting stones.
Support from the film industry
Jyotika joins Alia Bhatt, Salman Khan, Huma Qureshi, Saqib Saleem, Sonakshi Sinha, Prakash Raj, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Amol Parashar and Swara Bhaskar among those who have voiced their support for the students. Other celebrities from the film industry who have supported the protests or criticized the police action include Varun Dhawan, Shabana Azmi, R Madhavan, Kamal Haasan, Anupam Kher, Dulquer Salmaan, Imran Khan, Richa Chadha, Revathi, Tovino Thomas, Abhay Deol, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and Hollywood actor John Cusack.
Actor-host Shekhar Suman also talked about the recent police action on student protesters at Jantar Mantar. In his show, he said that the scenes of beating of students had deeply shaken him and he did not sleep for three days and only cried. He said he stands with the students and questioned the action against the youth who were protesting against injustice and demanding a healthy education system.
latest developments
Wangchuk, who was on hunger strike in solidarity with the students for over 20 days, ended his fast on Friday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the accused in the NEET leak have been arrested and the government is setting up fast-track courts to expedite the case. The Congress is also set to hold another protest in Central Delhi on Saturday over the alleged NEET paper leak and police action on student protesters.