‘I can’t sit with it any longer’: Kareena Kapoor, Varun Dhawan break silence on CJP protest

She went on to stress that students deserve an education system built on fairness and trust.

“No child should have to wonder if their effort will be enough. They deserve a system they can trust, where merit is real, effort is rewarded, and every child starts on equal footing. That isn’t a lot to ask. It’s the bare minimum. When an entire generation speaks with one voice about its own future, listening isn’t a courtesy we extend. It’s an obligation we owe them. Our children are watching us as closely as we watch them. How we respond now… not eventually, now… will tell them everything about whether fairness and trust are real, or just words adults use. They are not preparing for tomorrow. They are tomorrow.”

Varun Dhawan urges authorities to engage with students

Varun Dhawan also extended his support through Instagram, describing students as the country’s future and calling for a transparent resolution to their concerns.

“Students are the future of our country. When a student’s dream is crushed, it’s not just one dream that’s lost; it’s the dream of an entire family. They have every right to ask questions when they feel the system has failed them. Their voices deserve to be heard, protected, and addressed with sincerity. I appeal to the authorities to engage with these concerns and work towards a fair, transparent, and meaningful resolution that ensures accountability.”

He also urged that the movement should remain focused on students and their demands.

“I also sincerely hope this remains a students’ protest, the focus must remain on the issues affecting the students and the solutions they deserve. Peaceful protest is a democratic right, and every student should be allowed to exercise…”

Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday and Twinkle Khanna also speak out

Sara Ali Khan described the students’ movement as a reminder of the true spirit of patriotism. In her Instagram note, she wrote, “Our students are our future and their future tugs at the very heart of our nation. Their resolve burns like a quiet, unquenchable flame that brings tears to my eyes, reminding us that true patriotism beats in the brave hearts of those who dare to stand up for what they believe in.”

She added, “We must listen to them with open hearts, care deeply and walk beside them. Their dreams are woven into ours. Our dreams live in theirs. As an optimistic patriot, I have immense faith that our government will deliver justice. Jai Hind.”

Ananya Panday also praised Gen Z for refusing to stay silent, writing, “Gen Z has always been labelled … not all of them have been kind. But maybe this moment is reminding us who this generation really is. A generation that’s no longer willing to accept, ‘this is how it’s always been.’ They’re not asking for shortcuts. They’re asking for fairness to be the bare minimum, not the exception. Questioning isn’t disrespect. Speaking up isn’t rebellion. It’s hope. It’s belief that things can be better. And that’s how change begins.”

Meanwhile, author and former actor Twinkle Khanna shared photographs from the protests in Delhi and Mumbai, including images of demonstrators confronting police action. Alongside the pictures, she wrote, “Proud to belong to a country where our young people still have the courage to dissent, to push back, to brave tear gas and batons. The sad part is that they have to.”

More celebrities back the movement

Kareena Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday and Twinkle Khanna are among the latest celebrities to lend their support to the students’ movement. Earlier, Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan, Naeeruddin Shah and many others voiced solidarity through social media posts, while Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj joined the CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ march at Jantar Mantar in support of the protesters.

What are the protests about?

The CJP-led protests have been underway for over a month, with students alleging large-scale irregularities in the examination system, particularly the NEET paper leak. The movement is also demanding accountability from the government and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Earlier this month, social activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the agitation and began a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in support of the students.

The protests escalated earlier this week after thousands of students and supporters marched towards Parliament as part of the CJP’s ‘Chalo Sansad’ call. Delhi Police said protesters displayed “unruly, aggressive, and violent behaviour” and refused to disperse despite repeated warnings.

The protesters, however, alleged that police used excessive force, claiming they were lathi-charged indiscriminately. Videos shared on social media appeared to show police using batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators, while protesters also alleged that some people in civilian clothes assaulted them during the clashes.