Actor couple Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia have expressed their support for the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest against flaws in the education system, especially the NEET exam, in Delhi. On Monday, Riteish took to his Instagram Stories space and shared a joint statement, indirectly hinting at the CJP protest. In Riteish and Genelia's statement, the couple expressed, "We stand in solidarity with the youth of our country. Their voices deserve to be heard — loud, clear, and without fear."
The statement further added, "They are the heartbeats of our democracy and the true architects of our nation's future. Let us listen, support, and empower them. The energy, courage, and dreams of our young people will shape the India we aspire to build. Jai Hind."
Both Riteish and Genelia shared the statement on their Instagram Stories spaces.
It is worth noting that Riteish Deshmukh comes from a family that has deep connections with the Indian National Congress. Vilasrao Deshmukh, the actor's late father, served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for the Congress, whereas his siblings, Amit Deshmukh and Dhiraj Deshmukh, are still active politicians for the party. Riteish campaigns for his close relatives and has been a BJP critic.
The actor's latest comments about the student protest in Delhi come shortly after BJP leader Suresh Nakhua slammed him for what he alleged is a case of historical misrepresentation of facts in the former's film Raja Shivaji. At the time, Riteish politely requested the BJP leader to watch his film for the clarification to his doubt. "I hope you enjoy the film with your friends and family," he said in response to the criticism.
Coming back to the CJP protest, it became significance as it has come at the back of a days-long hunger strike by educationist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar. Many, including film personalities, expressed their support for Sonam Wangchuk.
