Veteran actor and politician Kamal Haasan has extended his support to students protesting over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the country’s education system. As demonstrations led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continue across India, Haasan shared a powerful message on social media, expressing solidarity with students while appealing to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his ongoing hunger strike.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kamal Haasan criticized the education system and the handling of student concerns, saying the country had failed its youth. In his strongly worded statement, he wrote, “We should have listened when one child cried. Instead, we waited until far too many of our children died.” He further described the current system as one where “coaching replaces learning, anxiety replaces curiosity, and criminality replaces merit,” calling it fundamentally broken.
The actor-politician also stated that “A nation has failed when its children are met with barricades and batons instead of answers,” emphasizing that students seeking justice deserve dialogue rather than confrontation. His remarks come as protests over the alleged NEET paper leak continue to gain momentum in several cities, with students demanding greater transparency, accountability, and reforms in the examination process.
Alongside his message supporting students, Kamal Haasan made a heartfelt appeal to environmentalist and activist Sonam Wangchuk, urging him to end his hunger strike. Addressing Wangchuk directly, Haasan wrote, “The nation will need your conscience for the journey ahead. Please end your fast.” He added that Wangchuk’s moral leadership would continue to be important as the country works toward meaningful educational reforms.
Concluding his message, Haasan addressed students directly, encouraging them to remain hopeful despite the ongoing challenges. “To the children of India: You are the best of us. You have done your duty. It is now time for the country to do its duty by you. May your dreams forever be bigger than our failures,” he wrote.
Kamal Haasan is the latest public figure to express support for the nationwide student movement. Several celebrities, including Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Shabana Azmi, Huma Qureshi, Saqib Saleem, Imran Khan, Ratna Pathak Shah, Naseeruddin Shah, Ayesha Khan, Dia Mirza, and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, have also spoken in favor of students or called for greater accountability and reforms in the education system.
The ongoing protests began after allegations of irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination and have since spread across the country. Students continue to demand a fair investigation, systemic reforms, and action against those responsible for the alleged paper leak.