New Delhi: Actor Anupam Kher on Wednesday said he understood the “restlessness and anger” of students participating in the Cockroach Janta Party protest in Delhi, but also warned them against allowing “political opportunists” and people with their “own agenda” to take control of the movement.
His video message on X came after several opposition leaders joined demonstrations supporting the CJP protesters. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav participated in protests on Tuesday, while actor Shabana Azmi joined the CJP’s “Chalo Sansad” march on Monday.
Kher said he was disturbed and saddened by images from the protest. He said no student should have to face such conditions to make their voice heard.
Calling student movements “the truest voice of society”, Kher said they were driven by the pursuit of rights and the desire to build a better country.
“I am wholeheartedly with you,” he said. “But I want to tell you one thing as an elder brother. When outside people begin entering your movement, political opportunists and people whose aim is not your issue but their own agenda, then be careful.”
छात्र किसी भी देश की सबसे बड़ी उम्मीद होते हैं। उनकी आवाज़ को सुना जाना चाहिए, समझा जाना चाहिए और उसका सम्मान होना चाहिए।
मेरी केवल एक प्रार्थना है—अपनी लड़ाई, अपना मुद्दा और अपनी सोच किसी और के हाथों का औज़ार मत बनने दीजिए।
यह संदेश किसी के पक्ष या विपक्ष में नहीं, बल्कि हमारे… pic.twitter.com/uIdcnbOOoH
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) July 22, 2026
Kher said students may initially believe that every new person joining the movement makes it stronger. But, he added, such people could turn its greatest strength into its greatest weakness.
“They do not become your voice. They begin using your voice,” Kher said. “They do not come to understand your pain. They come to build their politics on your pain.”
He said the protest could gradually stop belonging to the students. “The cameras become theirs, the slogans become theirs, the purpose becomes theirs, and perhaps the loss becomes yours,” he said.
Kher urged students to continue speaking fearlessly, but “on your own terms, with your own judgement and self-respect”. He said they must ensure that no one else takes control of their voice.
The CJP has led the month-long student protest demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities. The movement drew wider political support after police action against protesters during Monday’s march towards Parliament.
Kher’s video has received its fair share of scepticism in the comments, with many pointing to his earlier silence on students’ grievances.
“To those advising students to become mere “tools,” First, tell us: when their voices were being suppressed, where were you? Timely silence and later sermons—what is this if not a double standard? The youth understand everything, sir,” said one comment by @Thanesh KR.
Another comment from @tanjit_singh asked Kher to show his support on the ground: “While appreciating your suggestion, we invite you to join the students’ protest; if you consider yourself an ordinary citizen, do come.”
(Edited by Asavari Singh)
The malaise with education in India is much more bigger, much deeper than being stated here. The real problem is the apparent ridicule of priority to modern scientific education infrastructure at affordable cost , to everyone. With over eighty thousand government schools axed from existence, coupled with the proliferation of private sector with their VIP links, clearly signals towards a mindset that ‘efucation’ is a ‘business opportunity’ for those in power. For them the massacre of affordable education, to make more space for ‘profit making education shops’, is what defines this sector. The shrinking budget allocations, rapid shut-down of govt schools etc. are the fountain-head of this malaise. Start from there.