Actress Dia Mirza has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on the NEET paper leak, saying his comments lacked empathy for the students and families affected by the crisis.

Hours after the Prime Minister’s video message on Thursday night, Dia shared a strongly worded note on Instagram expressing disappointment over his response.

“Not a word of sympathy for the parents who have lost their children, for the children who have died, for the incredible resilience of the students demanding their rights, for Sonamji and the students who were on hunger strike for weeks. How hard can it be, sir?” she wrote.

The actor also questioned the delay in the Prime Minister’s response and said, “It took you 47 days to say something. And now that you have, you have said nothing. Nothing that can heal the millions of broken hearts.”

Prime Minister Modi, in a nearly three-minute video message posted at 11.52 pm on Thursday, said the exam paper leak has caused “immense pain” to lakhs of students and their parents. He announced that the Union Cabinet on Friday will discuss a draft law to introduce fast-track courts and impose tougher punishment for those involved in paper leak cases. He also said that the government will make every possible effort to pass the proposed law during the current monsoon session of Parliament.

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Calling the issue “not trivial”, the Prime Minister said the government’s immediate priority after the NEET paper leak is to ensure that an academic year of students is not lost.

Dia Mirza has been among the many film personalities who have voiced their support for the students protesting over NEET irregularities and demanding education reforms. His latest post comes as the debate on accountability and reforms in the examination system is gaining momentum.