Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has come out in support of the student protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, urging authorities to listen to the demonstrators’ demands.
Sharing a note on social media, the artist addressed the heavy police crackdown during the recent parliamentary march, writing: “Aj Jo hoyea baut maada hoyea… students naal edan treat nhi Hona chaida c. Mai authorities nu request karda ke students dian demands nu sunn Leya javey.. Lokan di avaaz Rab di avaaz hundi aa [What happened today was very bad. Students should not have been treated like this. I request the authorities that the students’ demands should be heard. The voice of the people is the voice of God].”
Reflecting on his previous political stands, Dosanjh acknowledged the heavy personal toll he expects to face for speaking out.
“Mere te Already Anti Nationalist Da Tag Baut Vaar Lagg chuka. Hun v mainu anti-nationalist keha jaega. After Kisan protest. I faced a Lot of Backlash & Legal Problems which I can’t Even discuss. BAKI RAB SAB DEKH REHA, BABA BHALI KARU [The ‘anti-national’ tag has already been attached to me many times. Now also, I will be called anti-national. After the farmers’ protest, I faced a lot of backlash and legal problems which I can’t even discuss. Anyway, God is watching everything, the Almighty will do good].”
The statement comes weeks after Dosanjh’s film ‘Satluj’ was abruptly removed from the OTT platform Zee5 just 48 hours after its release, as the movie explored the massacre of Sikhs at the behest of the Indian state during the unrest era of Indian Punjab. The film had already faced a protracted three-year clearance battle with the India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) before finally hitting screens.
Meanwhile, the demonstrations in Delhi have drawn widespread solidarity from various film personalities. Indian actor and comedian Vir Das criticised the silence of public figures, writing on social media, “If you’re an Indian live artist, I hope you understand the sheer hypocrisy of not speaking up for young people, and then trying to sell them tickets later.”
Veteran actress Shabana Azmi also joined the demonstrations, asserting that the participants remained committed to peaceful assembly and constitutional rights.
It may be noted that the protests are being held to seek the resignation of India’s Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan after the NEET paper leak scandal. At least 12 students committed suicide as a result of the leaks, prompting a strong reaction from Indian youth.
