Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh has come out in support of students protesting over alleged examination irregularities after the July 20 clashes in Delhi. His statement marks a significant shift from his earlier stance, when he had chosen to stay away from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protest.
Taking to Instagram, Diljit expressed concern over the police action during the protest march, where students and youth activists were stopped from marching towards Parliament using barricades, tear gas, and lathi-charge.
In an emotional post, the actor wrote that what happened to the students was “very wrong” and appealed to the authorities to listen to their demands through dialogue.
“What happened today was very wrong. Students should not have been treated like this. I request the authorities to listen to the students’ demands. The voice of the people is the voice of God,” Diljit wrote.
The singer also acknowledged that his support could once again attract criticism. Referring to the backlash he received during the farmers’ protest, Diljit said he had already been labelled “anti-national” several times and expected the same reaction now.
“I have already been called anti-national many times. I know I will be called anti-national again. After the farmers’ protest, I faced a lot of backlash and legal problems that I still cannot even discuss. But God is watching everything. May Baba bless everyone,” he added.
Interestingly, Diljit’s latest statement comes just days after he had distanced himself from the CJP protest during an Instagram Live session. At the time, he had said he was an artist and not a politician, asking people to keep him away from political matters. He had also quoted a verse from the Guru Granth Sahib, saying that everyone in the world faces struggles and only faith brings peace.
Despite that earlier position, the events of July 20 appear to have prompted the actor to speak out, particularly after visuals of the clashes between protesters and police spread widely on social media.
The protest, organised by the CJP, was aimed at demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak, along with the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and broader education reforms. Thousands of students and supporters participated in the march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament before police intervened to stop the procession.
Diljit’s statement has now added another prominent voice from the entertainment industry to the growing list of celebrities expressing concern over the treatment of student protesters and calling for their grievances to be addressed through dialogue rather than confrontation.
