Actor Prakash Raj visited Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to express support for Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protesters [1].
This high-profile endorsement brings celebrity attention to a movement demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, amplifying the visibility of the group's grievances before a major planned mobilization.
Raj shared a video from the protest site where he expressed his solidarity with the demonstrators [1]. The actor said to the protesters, "I am with you" [3]. The visit occurred ahead of the "Sansad Chalo" march, which was scheduled for July 20, 2026 [2].
The CJP protesters are calling for the resignation of Minister Pradhan and citing other grievances as the primary drivers for their demonstration [2]. The gathering at Jantar Mantar serves as a staging ground for the movement's efforts to bring their demands directly to the parliament [1].
Other public figures have also joined the cause. Actor Shabana Azmi met with the protesters at the site, where she was seen kissing the hands of a protester on a hunger strike [3]. The combined presence of these figures highlights a growing intersection between the Indian arts community and the specific political demands of the CJP movement.
The "Sansad Chalo" march is intended to signal the urgency of the protesters' demands to the central government [2]. By filming and posting the encounter, Raj used his digital platform to extend the reach of the Jantar Mantar protest beyond the physical boundaries of the capital city [1].
“"I am with you"”
The involvement of established figures like Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi suggests a strategic attempt by the CJP to leverage celebrity influence to pressure the Union Education Ministry. By aligning with a movement that uses hunger strikes and marches to Parliament, these actors are transitioning from passive support to active public endorsement of a specific political resignation demand.
