Actor Imran Khan joined a protest in Mumbai on Wednesday to stand in solidarity with students demonstrating over the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination-related irregularities. His participation came a day after he strongly criticised the reported police action against protesters during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march in Delhi.During the Mumbai protest, Imran was asked how he would respond to actors who choose to stay away from political discussions, arguing that art and politics should remain separate. The question was posed by an aspiring actor attending the march.Responding firmly, Imran rejected the idea that an artist can detach their work from their personal beliefs. “True art is going to have an individual artist point of view embedded within it, and as part of our human nature, we are going to have opinions and perspectives that we hold true to ourselves. If you can’t stand by your opinions and if you do not pour your own heart into your art, your art has no value.”His comments come at a time when several celebrities have remained silent on the student movement, while others have openly supported the protests through public appearances and social media statements.Earlier, after videos from the Delhi demonstrations surfaced online, Imran shared an emotional statement expressing his distress over reports that students were subjected to tear gas and a lathi-charge by the police.“Something broke in me today. Watching as police gassed and battered student protestors… how could I make sense of this? These students who worked hard, only to be failed by the system. These people who asked to be heard, only to be met with silence. These citizens who stood up to show what matters to them… beaten down and disowned by the establishment,” he wrote.Questioning the treatment of the protesters, he further wrote, “Are these not the children of Mother India? If not them, for whom do we build, and whose future do we claim to protect?”Imran also criticised those who expect students to be more organised while, according to him, failing to demand the same level of accountability from institutions and those in positions of authority.The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led movement has now continued for nearly a month, with protesters seeking accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Activist Sonam Wangchuk has also joined the agitation and is reportedly on the 26th day of his hunger strike. Earlier this week, students attempted to march from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament as part of the ‘Chalo Sansad’ campaign.
