Poonam Pandey Extends Support to NEET Protesters at Jantar Mantar, Says ‘Let’s Not Turn This Into a Religious Issue’ (Watch Video)
Bollywood actress Poonam Pandey extends unwavering support to students protesting alleged NEET-UG paper leaks at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. Joining the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demonstration and speaking to media on July 20, 2026, Pandey urged authorities to address student grievances and keep the focus away from political and religious divides.
New Delhi witnessed a charged atmosphere today as Bollywood actress Poonam Pandey joined the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar, extending her unwavering support to students demanding justice regarding the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. Her presence comes as the 'Chalo Sansad' march, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), intensified, leading to clashes with Delhi Police. Rapper Santy Sharma’s YouTube Channel Permanently Deleted After Comment on Cockroach Janta Party?.
Poonam Pandey Extends Support to NEET Protestors at Jantar Mantar
Poonam Pandey first made her presence felt at the Jantar Mantar protest site on Sunday, July 19, 2026, where she expressed strong solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk and the students advocating for accountability in the NEET examination process. She reiterated her support by appearing at the site today, Monday, July 20, 2026, stressing that her sole purpose was to back the students.
Pandey appealed passionately to the public and other stakeholders not to politicise or communalise the critical issue. "I am here only to request people not to divide India. Let's not do this, let's not turn this into a religious or political issue. Stop picking at who is doing what and which God they are praying to. This is wrong," she stated, urging everyone to keep the focus strictly on the students and their grievances.
Expressing apprehension regarding the planned march to Parliament, Pandey added, "I pray everyone stays safe. I know it's a march, and they might face difficulties or get lathi-charged, but I pray they don't suffer anymore. They are already in distress." She also recounted a personal story about her father's struggles to afford her education, drawing parallels to the students' current plight.
Poonam Pandey Joins CJP Protest at Jantar Mantar
#WATCH | Delhi: At the protest site at Jantar Mantar, Actor Poonam Pandey says, "The entire internet and all of India have been echoing with and clamoring about this protest. The public, these students are simply demanding an answer, and I have come here for that very reason; I… pic.twitter.com/hLnjB7pBtE
— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2026
Update on the Protest
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), the driving force behind the ongoing agitation, has been protesting since June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.
Chalo Sansad March: Thousands of CJP supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar and attempted to march towards Parliament, despite Delhi Police denying permission and imposing prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS (formerly Section 144 CrPC) across the New Delhi district.
- Police Action: Delhi Police resorted to a mild lathi-charge and tear gas to disperse protesters attempting to move beyond barricades near Parliament. Several protesters were detained amidst the chaos.
- Prominent Support: Beyond Poonam Pandey, several other public figures joined the protest, including veteran actress Shabana Azmi, actor Prakash Raj, and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.
- Activist Sonam Wangchuk: Wangchuk, who initiated an indefinite hunger strike against the alleged NEET irregularities, was forcefully shifted to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday, July 18, 2026, due to his deteriorating health. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke continued the hunger strike.
- Government Dialogue: The government has reached out to the CJP for talks, with CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka scheduled to meet Union Health Minister JP Nadda. 'I Am Feeling Very Fine': Sonam Wangchuk Seeks Discharge From Hospital to Join 'Sansad Chalo' March.
The protest continues to draw significant attention, with calls for transparency and accountability in the education system resonating across the nation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 20, 2026 03:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
