Activists, celebrities join Kochi protests in solidarity with Delhi students

Activists and celebrities gathered in solidarity with the ongoing student protests in New Delhi triggered by the NEET question paper leak, while a series of demonstrations were held in Kochi on Wednesday. Protest meetings were held at Maharaja’s College, Panampilly Nagar and Kacheripady by different groups in solidarity with the agitation led by the Cockroach Janata Party in Delhi.

Addressing a protest meeting organized by the university union at Maharaja’s College under the banner “In Solidarity with the Youth of the Nation”, writer NS Madhavan said he was deeply concerned about the alleged involvement of masked civilians supporting the Central government in attacking student protesters in Delhi.

“This reminds me of how Brownshirts who wanted Hitler to remain in power joined the police in attacking protesters on the streets of Germany nearly 100 years ago. According to the lessons of history, the scenes in Delhi do not bode well for the country,” Mr. Madhavan said.

However, he expressed hope that the government would not be able to suppress the protests.

Actor-filmmaker Joju George likened the situation in Delhi to the Emergency.

“I see leakage, or the collapse of a country’s education system, as a form of slow poisoning. Students who protest are being beaten and opposition leaders are being dragged away,” he said.

Calling for wider support for the agitation, filmmaker Ashique Abu said that those who gave hope to the country were the children who were beaten on the streets. He announced that the student body will take out a march from the university to the BSNL office in Kochi on Thursday.

Actor Ranjini Haridas speaks in support of the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, at a solidarity event held in Kochi on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI

Advocate Harish Vasudevan criticized the judiciary’s reluctance to intervene in allegations of police excesses against student protesters.

Rapper Vedan, singer Aloshy and former India international footballer CK Vineeth attended a solidarity protest in support of students protesting at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar in Kochi on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT

TV anchor Ranjini Haridas, who recently attended the CJP protest in Delhi, spoke about her experience.

“From what I saw, I seriously doubted whether we were still a democracy,” he said.

Those who attended the solidarity meeting included writer KR Meera, CPI(M) Ernakulam district secretary S. Sathish, filmmakers Mahesh Narayanan, Manu Ashok and Seenu Sohanlal, LGBTQI activist Sheetal Shyam, actors Gowri Kishan and Jolly Chirayathu and singer Official Sateesh.

Meanwhile, Rapper Vedan spoke at a solidarity meeting in Panampilly Nagar. Activists KP Sankaran and Sreemoolanagaram Mohan held a satyagraha at Gandhi Square in Kacheripady while the State committee of the Indian Socialist@100 collective held another solidarity meeting.

Ernakulam Government Medical College ASTRA Students’ Union organized a solidarity protest on the campus. Protesters emphasized that students’ concerns must be addressed through dialogue, transparency and accountability.

A public meeting was also held at Gandhi Square in Poonithura condemning the police action against student protests in Delhi. Deputy Chairman Chandran, Councilor of Kochi Corporation, chaired the meeting, which was attended by student activist Athul Krishna.

Late on Tuesday night, around 100 people, mostly young people, gathered at Queen’s Walkway in Kochi in solidarity with the ongoing protests in Delhi. Following the call made through the Instagram account Azadi Kerala, they attended the candlelight vigil wearing black.

Participants chanted slogans and held banners with strongly worded anti-government messages. Political leaders did not participate in the protest. One of the banners read: “You’ve messed with the wrong generation.”

It was published – 23 July 2026 12:46 IST