Indian celebrities fiercely criticised for silence on Cockroach protests

Indian Celebrities Face Backlash for Quiet Stance During Cockroach Protests

Wanderstayfinder.com – Entertainment figures across India are encountering intense scrutiny for their muted response to what may be the most significant youth demonstrations in recent memory. This week, hundreds of thousands of young people flooded streets nationwide, rallying under the banner of the Cockroach Janata party, commonly abbreviated as CJP. The movement has emerged as an unprecedented challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, primarily driven by demands for transparency regarding widespread examination paper leaks.

Many demonstrators expressed frustration at what they perceived as cowardly behavior from India’s most prominent public figures. Vijay Rai, a 24-year-old who journeyed over 2,000 kilometers from Chennai in southern India to join the protests, articulated the sentiment shared by many.

We are the ones who made them famous and wealthy by turning up and paying for their films and matches. Now when it’s our turn for a little help, we get nothing.

Since launching their indefinite sit-in on June 20 in the capital city, CJP participants have endured considerable hardship. They have slept on the ground while facing scorching sunshine, heavy monsoon rains, and oppressive humidity. The demonstrations have already achieved one major victory: the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Prasad. This outcome fulfills a central CJP demand following a May examination paper leak that compelled approximately 2 million students to retake a crucial test and triggered more than a dozen student suicides.

This marks a historic moment for the Bharatiya Janata party, which has governed for twelve years. It represents the first instance in which one of Modi’s most steadfast ministers has been compelled to step down due to sustained public pressure. On Monday, the largely peaceful student demonstrations encountered harsh police responses, including baton strikes, teargas deployment, and reportedly, the use of pellet guns against demonstrators.

Questions of Celebrity Responsibility

Protesters voiced particular disappointment regarding how celebrities addressed global crises while seemingly ignoring domestic grievances, even as their most loyal supporters faced police violence. Seema, a Delhi-based domestic worker, captured this frustration:

Just a few words on social media to express their moral support for our demands would have been welcome.

Bollywood’s political positioning has shifted considerably in recent years. Once considered relatively apolitical, the film industry is now widely viewed as having been absorbed into Narendra Modi’s far-right political sphere. This transformation has produced a wave of hyper-nationalist cinema accused of advancing the BJP government’s political objectives. Given that numerous Bollywood’s leading stars belong to Muslim communities, many navigate carefully to prevent their films from facing boycotts by influential Hindu right-wing organizations.

Aamir Khan serves as a notable example of celebrity vulnerability. In 2015, the actor and filmmaker faced severe online criticism when he revealed that his wife felt unsafe amid rising incidents of Muslim lynchings and questioned whether the family should consider leaving India.

Superstar Responses Draw Mixed Reactions

Those few celebrities who eventually addressed the situation this week largely avoided direct criticism of the government, earning condemnation for their cautious positions. Salman Khan, one of Bollywood’s most recognizable figures, issued a statement urging students to return home and avoid worrying their parents, while asserting that Modi maintained control over the situation. Similarly, actor Anupam Kher acknowledged the students’ restlessness and anger but cautioned against political opportunists and individuals with separate agendas co-opting the movement—remarks that paralleled statements from BJP ministers.

Compounding the criticism, Aamir Khan faced additional backlash when he disputed the long-held belief that his 2009 film Three Idiots was inspired by Sonam Wangchuk, the engineer and activist. Wangchuk had embarked on a 26-day hunger strike in support of the Cockroach movement, and many interpreted Khan’s statement as an effort to distance himself and his career from the ongoing protests.

Cricket icons Virat Kohli and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma, also encountered criticism for what observers described as a lack of backbone. Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar offered a somewhat ambiguous message on X, simply stating that we must create a culture where hard work is rewarded, honesty is encouraged, and merit wins.

Twenty-nine-year-old influencer Alexander Balakrishnan suggested that some celebrities might hesitate to antagonize the government, fearing career damage through lost contracts and endorsements. However, he noted that the biggest stars possess sufficient fame to provide protection, yet still remained silent.

Notable exceptions to the general silence included veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, aged 76, who strongly criticized Bollywood’s quietude, and Shabana Azmi, who joined the journey from Mumbai to the capital to demonstrate her solidarity with the protesters.