Actor and BJP MP Hema Malini referred to the ongoing protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) near Parliament and said dialogue, not protests, is the way to resolve the issues. The actor-politician attended the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament in New Delhi on Monday and spoke to the media after the session.Responding to questions about the protesters’ demands, Hema told the media, “Agar kuch hai toh achhi tarah issue is discussed karna chahiye. Is tarah se protest karne se toh kuch kaam nahi hoga.” (If there is any problem, it should be discussed properly. Protesting like this will not solve anything.)
“Students should not be fooled”
Talking about the participation of students in the agitation, Hema defended the Centre’s work in the education sector and urged the protest organizers to collaborate with the government instead of taking to the streets.“Hamari Modi sarkar hamesha yuvaon aur education system ke saath rahi hai. Bahut kaam kiya hai uske liye. Abhi jo aap log protest kar rahe hain, iska koi matlab nahi hai. Main kahungi baat karke isko solve karna chahiye. Sarkar se baat karni chahiye,” he said.He added, “Students ko gumrah nahi karna chahiye. Unko barabar batana chahiye ki kya problem hai, instead of unko disturbance karke aur apni baat manwane ke liye unko istemal karna.” (Students should not be misled. They should be clearly informed about the real issue rather than being disturbed and dragged into someone else’s agenda.)
On calls for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
When asked about the protesters’ demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Hema chose not to comment in detail.“Abhi es vishay mein main zyada kuch bolna nahi chahungi. Iske liye kya stand lena hai, hamari sarkar barabar legi.” (I wouldn’t like to comment too much on this topic at this time. Whatever position needs to be taken, our government will take it.)
in it Ayodhya Ram Mandir robbery affair
Hema was also asked about the alleged robbery at Ayodhya Ram Mandir. Responding to the issue, he said that strict action should be taken if any crime is established.“Agar jin logon ne galat kaam kiya hai, unko zaroor saza milegi. Jo bhi ho, koi bhi ho. Kaafi logon ko jail bhi bheja ja chuka hai. Hamari sarkar ekdum nyay karegi.” (If someone has done something wrong, they will definitely be punished, whoever it is. Many people have already been sent to jail and our government will ensure that justice is done).
The protest gains the support of film personalities
The protests have been supported by several members of the film fraternity. On Sunday, actors Prakash Raj, Shabana Azmi and Poonam Pandey joined protesters at Jantar Mantar. Prakash Raj shared a video from the protest site, while Shabana Azmi was seen meeting and encouraging the hunger-striking protesters. Poonam Pandey told the media that the movement was about students affected by alleged discrepancies in NEET exams and not about politics or religion.On Monday morning, Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj helped students observing an indefinite hunger strike with activist Sonam Wangchuk break their fast. Several celebrities including Kiran Rao, Hrithik Roshan, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan and Shatrughan Sinha have also expressed their solidarity with Wangchuk on social media. Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ended his indefinite hunger strike on Monday at the request of Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after her own 21-day fast required medical intervention on July 18. Later in the day, CJP representatives Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das met Union Health Minister JP Nadda amid the ongoing protests.