Actors praise Gen Z-led demonstrations after government accepts demands over examination irregularities
NEW DELHI: Several Bollywood actors and public figures reacted on social media after India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following weeks of youth-led protests over alleged examination irregularities.
Pradhan announced on Saturday that he had submitted his resignation, following demonstrations led by students demanding changes to the education system and accountability over examination-related concerns.
How Did Bollywood Stars Respond?
Actors including Alia Bhatt, Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Sonakshi Sinha and Prakash Raj shared messages supporting the protesters.
Alia Bhatt wrote on Instagram: “Gen Z showed up! The rest is history.”
Sara Ali Khan shared a post featuring the word “Democracy” along with heart, folded-hands and Indian flag emojis.
Ibrahim Ali Khan wrote that he was “happy to see voices heard,” while also sharing messages praising youth participation.
Sonakshi Sinha posted a video thanking protesting students and congratulating Generation Z for their efforts.
What Led to the Minister’s Resignation?
The resignation followed weeks of protests organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led group that raised concerns over alleged examination irregularities.
The protesters demanded Pradhan’s resignation, compensation for affected students and the withdrawal of legal cases filed against demonstrators.
The group said its demands had been accepted following discussions and announced that protests at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar site would be called off.
What Did Pradhan and Opposition Leaders Say?
Pradhan said he was “pained” by the events and submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This is not a matter of personal prestige for me,” Pradhan said in a statement on X, adding that India’s youth were the country’s strength.
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi described the resignation as a significant development and called for accountability over alleged actions against protesting students.
Other actors, including Shabana Azmi, Vaani Kapoor, Malaika Arora and Priyanka Chopra, also shared messages related to the protests and the minister’s resignation.
The demonstrations highlighted growing concerns among young people in India over examination processes and education reforms.