Mumbai: Bollywood actor Salman Khan has voiced support for students participating in the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest over alleged examination paper leaks, calling the issue “very serious” and praising the demonstrators for conducting a peaceful movement. The actor also expressed concern for students and families affected during the protest, urging that the movement should not be politicised.
Salman shared his views through a social media post, becoming one of the first major Bollywood stars to publicly react to the ongoing agitation. His statement came amid growing national attention on the protests and allegations of police action against demonstrators in Delhi.
‘My heart goes out to the students’
In his statement, Salman said his heart went out to the students and their families who were affected during the protests.
He described the agitation as peaceful and said the students deserved recognition for maintaining discipline while raising their concerns.
“It was such a peaceful movement. My heart goes out to the students and their families who were hurt. This andolan, this protest, is the right way to go about it,” Salman said.
The actor also shared an old photograph of himself as a student, using it to underline the importance of education and the aspirations of young people.
Urges people not to politicise the movement
Salman stressed that the focus should remain on the concerns raised by students rather than political narratives surrounding the protest.
Calling the alleged examination paper leak a serious issue, he urged everyone to keep education above politics.
“This issue should not be hijacked politically. The credit should go only to the students who have carried out this movement peacefully,” he said.
He also encouraged young people to prioritise education, saying that the country should make “education trend, not fashion.”
Protest over alleged examination irregularities
The CJP has been leading protests demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities and question paper leaks. The agitation intensified after clashes during a march towards Parliament, with several protesters reportedly detained and allegations of police force triggering a wider political debate.
The demonstrations have drawn support from various public figures, with Salman Khan’s statement adding another prominent voice to the issue.
More celebrities join the conversation
Following Salman’s statement, other film personalities also began expressing solidarity with the protesting students.
Actor Alia Bhatt later shared a message praising the courage of the students, while R. Madhavan had also voiced support for the movement earlier, signalling increasing backing from the film industry.
Salman’s intervention has attracted widespread attention on social media, with supporters welcoming his comments while others debated the role of celebrities in speaking on public issues.
As the protests continue, the actor’s appeal has remained consistent: that the focus should stay on students’ concerns and the integrity of the education system rather than political differences.