Actress and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt has spoken out against an advisory from Delhi University that advises students and staff to refrain from joining protests at Jantar Mantar. Through her social media, she advocated for the importance of encouraging young people to express their views and participate in these discussions rather than discouraging them.
The university issued its advisory as protests continue over issues like the NEET exam paper leak. Demonstrations, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), have spread to other cities such as Mumbai and Bengaluru, where protesters are calling for accountability and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
On Thursday, Delhi University took to its official social media accounts to warn students about what it termed as unlawful gatherings at Jantar Mantar. The alert cited Supreme Court regulations regarding such assemblies and suggested that participating could lead to legal consequences. It also raised concerns about students’ safety and how these events could impact their academic and professional futures.
In addition, the university cautioned students to be wary of misinformation related to the protests, highlighting that false information was being circulated.
Following the advisory, Pooja Bhatt reshared it on X (formerly Twitter) and expressed her disagreement, stating that suppressing students’ voices could put their safety at greater risk. “If we truly care about their future, we must support their right to speak rather than maintain a silence,” she wrote.
Her comments reflect a growing concern from various figures in the film industry regarding the situation and how the protests are being handled.
The protests, initially sparked by the NEET paper leak, have now evolved into a broader movement focusing on the demand for educational reforms and accountability. Recently, several actors and filmmakers have lent their voices to the cause, some supporting the students’ demands while others urge for peaceful conversations without political interference.
