'Listen to the youth': Mammootty backs Jantar Mantar student protest

Kochi: Actor Mammootty has expressed support for the student protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, urging the government to listen to the voices of young people.

In a Facebook post, the veteran actor said, “The youth are the true treasure of our nation. Listen to their voices. Protect them. Empower them.”

Earlier, Mammootty's son and actor Dulquer Salmaan had also voiced support for the student protest.

Several Malayalam film personalities, including Tovino Thomas, Indrajith Sukumaran, Kunchacko Boban, Kalidas Jayaram, Joju George, Parvathy Thiruvothu, Rima Kallingal, Nikhila Vimal and Vismaya Mohanlal, have also shared social media posts backing the students. Dulquer had earlier noted that a stronger future should be built through empathy rather than division and violence.

Actors Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi also visited the protest site at Jantar Mantar and addressed the gathering in support of the students.

The CJP, a movement protesting alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the examination system, has been staging a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since June 20. The protest began after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant referred to youngsters as "cockroaches." It later gained momentum when activist Sonam Wangchuk and a group of Left-backed AISA students launched a hunger strike. A key demand of the protesters include the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.