Actor and BJP MP Hema Malini addressed the ongoing protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) near Parliament, saying that dialogue, not demonstrations, is the way to resolve issues. The actor-politician attended the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament in New Delhi on Monday and spoke to the media after the session.Responding to questions about the protestors’ demands, Hema told the media, “Agar kuch problem hai toh achhi tarah se discuss karna chahiye. Is tarah se protest karne se toh kuch kaam nahi hoga.” (If there is any problem, it should be discussed properly. Protesting in this manner will not solve anything.)
‘Students should not be misled’
Speaking about the participation of students in the agitation, Hema defended the Centre’s work in the education sector and urged protest organisers to engage with the government instead of taking to the streets.“Hamari Modi sarkar hamesha yuvaon aur education system ke saath rahi hai. Bahut kaam kiya hai uske liye. Abhi jo aap log protest kar rahe hain, iska koi matlab nahi hai. Main kahungi baat karke isko solve karna chahiye. Sarkar se baat karni chahiye,” she said.She further added, “Students ko gumrah nahi karna chahiye. Unko barabar batana chahiye ki kya problem hai, instead of unko disturb karke aur apni baat manwane ke liye unko istemal karna.” (Students should not be misled. They should be clearly informed about the actual issue instead of being disturbed and drawn into someone else’s agenda.)
On calls for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
When asked about the protesters’ demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, Hema chose not to comment in detail.“Abhi is vishay mein main zyada kuch bolna nahi chahungi. Iske liye kya stand lena hai, hamari sarkar barabar legi.” (I would not like to comment much on this issue right now. Whatever stand needs to be taken, our government will take it.)
On the Ayodhya Ram Mandir theft issue
Hema was also asked about the alleged theft at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Responding to the issue, she said that strict action should be taken if any wrongdoing is established.“Agar jin logon ne galat kaam kiya hai, unko zaroor saza milegi. Jo bhi ho, koi bhi ho. Kaafi logon ko jail bhi bheja ja chuka hai. Hamari sarkar ekdum nyay karegi.” (If anyone has done anything wrong, they will definitely be punished, whoever they may be. Many people have already been sent to jail, and our government will ensure justice is served.)
Protest gains support from film personalities
The protests have drawn support from several members of the film fraternity. On Sunday, actors Prakash Raj, Shabana Azmi and Poonam Pandey joined protesters at Jantar Mantar. Prakash Raj shared a video from the protest site, while Shabana Azmi was seen meeting and encouraging hunger-striking protesters. Poonam Pandey told the media that the movement was about students affected by alleged discrepancies in the NEET examinations and not about politics or religion.On Monday morning, Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj helped students observing an indefinite hunger strike with activist Sonam Wangchuk break their fast. Several celebrities, including Kiran Rao, Hrithik Roshan, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan and Shatrughan Sinha, have also expressed solidarity with Wangchuk on social media. Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ended his indefinite hunger strike on Monday at the request of Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after his own 21-day fast required medical intervention on July 18. Later in the day, CJP representatives Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das met Union Health Minister JP Nadda amid the ongoing protests.
