Shekhar Suman condemns police action on student protesters: I have only cried
Actor-host Shekhar Suman condemned the police action on student protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in his show. He said the action and the widespread NEET reform protests have shocked him and brought tears to his eyes.
Actor-host Shekhar Suman gets emotional in the latest episode of Shekhar Tonite He condemned the police action against student protesters at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. He said that the scene of students being beaten up for protesting against irregularities in the examination has shaken him to the core. The 63-year-old man confessed that he had not slept for three days and had only cried.
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Speaking about the ongoing protests over NEET-UG paper leak and demand for education reforms, Suman said she stands with the students and questioned the action against them. He also said that he initially wondered whether the episode should air at a time when the country is in turmoil over protests, but later decided that it was his responsibility to continue the show.
Making an emotional start to the episode, Suman said, “Before we start the show, I want to share something with all of you. What happened to those innocent, unarmed, helpless children at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on July 20 was heart-wrenching. The way they were beaten with batons with such cruelty, cruelty and heartlessness that they bled to death, has shaken me to my core. I slept for three days No; I just cried.”
He questioned the action against the protesters and said, “What was the fault of those young, innocent children? That they raised their voice against injustice and oppression. They stood up for their rights, for their future and beyond that, for the future of this country. They demanded a healthy education system. And instead of listening to them, they were lathicharged and attacked.”
He further said, “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 country and who has the courage to speak out against injustice.”
Suman also said that young voices are being branded as uncontrolled, anti-national and incompetent. He said, “The more you try to crush them, the stronger they come back. The more you reject them, the farther they spread. They survive not through strength, but through determination.”
At the end of her opening monologue, Suman said that she was unsure whether the episode should be aired or not, given the atmosphere in the country due to the student protests. He said that ultimately he felt that the show must go on.
what happened at jantar mantar
Suman’s comments came after thousands of youth protesters led by the Cockroach Janata Party gathered at Jantar Mantar for the Chalo Sansad march. The protesters were demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the education system, including the NEET paper leak.
As protesters tried to break through multiple layers of barricades in central Delhi, police used tear gas and lathicharge to disperse the crowd. 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.
Meanwhile, teacher and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on hunger strike in solidarity with students for over 20 days, ended her fast on Friday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that the accused in the NEET leak have been arrested and the government is setting up fast-track courts to expedite the case. Congress is all set to hold another protest in Central Delhi on Saturday over NEET paper leak and police action on student protesters.
Support from the film industry
The ongoing student protests over the NEET-UG paper leak and demand for education reforms have also received support from the film industry. Salman Khan shared a post on Thursday appealing to students to return home and asked Sonam Wangchuk to end her hunger strike.
Alia Bhatt shared an emotional note saying that the past few days had broken her heart and then connected it with hope. He described each student standing their ground as a journey of a dream, a family of hope and countless sacrifices and said that they are paving a better path for those who will come after them.
Varun Dhawan also supported the students, saying that they have every right to question the system that they believe has failed them.
Among the strongest voices supporting the protesters is veteran actress Shabana Azmi, who not only criticized the police action but also joined the protesters during the Cockroach Janata Party’s Chalo Sansad march in Delhi. Naseeruddin Shah also condemned the use of force, comparing the Delhi Police personnel involved in the action to American ICE agents and saying that the scenes were extremely disturbing.
R Madhavan said the leak has shattered the dreams of countless students and families, and cautioned against vested interests trying to hijack the movement. Kamal Haasan said that students demanding transparency should not be considered opponents and stressed that peaceful protest is a democratic right. Many other film celebrities including Anupam Kher, Sonakshi Sinha, Prakash Raj, Dulquer Salmaan, Imran Khan, Richa Chadha, Swara Bhaskar, Huma Qureshi, Revathi, Tovino Thomas, Abhay Deol, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and Hollywood actor John Cusack have also expressed support.