Actor Prakash Raj on Sunday joined protesting students at Freedom Park in Bengaluru who gathered on the call of the Cockroach Janta Party to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.
Slogans were raised amid demands for accountability, as Raj, activist Sonam Wangchuk and RJD founder Abhijit Debaki addressed the rain-soaked crowd.
“The youth of this country have decided to fight,” veteran actor Prakash Raj said in his speech while flanked by Wangchuk and Dipki.
While addressing the crowd, Raj said: “The youth of this country are telling their uncles and aunts, ‘You are ruling this country after retirement age. Go away. We the youth are fighting for our future.'”
Students and activists gathered carrying posters, some with the phrase “Say No to the British Janata Party” written on them, in an apparent attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at the Centre.
Raj has been a frequent critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and was earlier expected to attend the BJP’s first protest in Delhi. However, he later said he was unable to join due to “imminent previous work”.
Raj and the KKP confirmed on Saturday that the actor will be part of the protest at Freedom Park in Benajaluru.
“Important Announcement: Activist Prakash Raj will join CJP’s peaceful protest in Bengaluru!” The Cockroach Janta Party said in a post on X.
CJP demonstration in Hyderabad
The youth-led movement, under the banner of the CJP, also held protests in Hyderabad on Sunday demanding Pradhan’s resignation over NEET paper leak and irregularities related to CBSE’s screen marking system.
Protesters gathered in large numbers at Darna Chowk here to express their frustration against the NDA government at the Centre, PTI reported.
Activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk, who attended the protest, stressed the need to make ‘Bhi Mukt Bharat’ (Fearless India).
He called for a functioning democracy and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to take responsibility for systemic lapses.
“In the future, we have to achieve a functioning democracy where India is free from fear, India is free from hatred, and where everyone is given freedom without any questions,” he said.
Wangchuk explained that the incitement is not an attempt to seize power or challenge any political group, but rather to raise public awareness and protect citizens’ rights.
He said, “This is not a movement to become Minister of Education or to form a party. This is a movement to correct the wrong that is happening in the country, especially with the youth. This is an awakening.”
CJP founder Abhijit Debaki was not present at the protest meeting as he attended the Bengaluru protest. Vegeta Dahiya, one of the party’s spokespersons, attended and delivered a speech at the gathering.
