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Actor-turned-politician and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut has weighed in on the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest. She said that elected governments cannot be pressured into taking decisions through public demonstrations. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament during the Monsoon Session, Kangana said that the government derives its mandate from the people and should not be “arm-twisted” into deciding who should remain in office.
“The people have elected this government. It is our right to govern. You cannot arm-twist the government and decide who should remain in office,” she said when asked about the CJP’s demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. She further added that such matters should be debated and resolved in Parliament rather than through protests on the streets.
Her remarks came as thousands of students and supporters gathered in Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the CJP’s “Sansad Chalo” march. The protestors demand accountability over the alleged NEET examination paper leak.
VIDEO | Parliament Monsoon Session: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut says, “Our parliamentary sessions are meant specifically for us to discuss all issues in an extensive and detailed manner and to raise relevant questions. Creating a ruckus, causing disruptions, and protesting in this… pic.twitter.com/lTfWpvm0eL
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 20, 2026
What is the CJP movement demanding?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), backed by climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, has emerged as the face of a nationwide youth movement demanding accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak and broader education reforms.
The protesters have called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. They have alleging systemic failures in the conduct of competitive examinations. The movement gained further momentum after Wangchuk undertook a 21-day hunger strike before being hospitalised due to health concerns.
Bollywood voices split as celebrities back the movement
While Kangana has criticised the protest’s approach, several prominent members of the film industry have publicly supported the movement.
Veteran actor Shabana Azmi joined protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and later participated in the “Sansad Chalo” march. She also revealed that lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi before she joined the demonstrations.
Actor-filmmaker Prakash Raj also extended his support by participating in the protest. Veteran actor Sayaji Shinde urged the government to open dialogue with Sonam Wangchuk and the protesters. Other Bollywood celebrities including Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha and Swara Bhasker have extended their support for the cause.
