Actor Mukesh Khanna has described those supporting the students' protest over the alleged NEET paper leak as "cockroaches" and said they should be "thrown out". In a video shared on Instagram, the 68-year-old claimed the agitation was not genuinely about students affected by the examination controversy but was instead being used as part of a larger agenda to destabilise the government.
His remarks come amid an ongoing debate over the conduct and language used during protests linked to the NEET issue. The controversy intensified after a viral student-led demonstration in which some participants allegedly raised vulgar slogans against political leaders and security personnel, sparking nationwide discussion. An FIR was also reportedly registered against a woman identified as Ruchika over alleged objectionable remarks directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the video, Khanna said that although he was outside India, he had been closely following developments through Instagram Reels and YouTube. Referring to his earlier comments about Gen Z, he remarked that if these were the young people on whom the country would depend over the next 25 years, it raised serious concerns about India's future.
He said that after watching several videos, he had concluded that many people agreed with his view that those seen participating in the protests were not genuinely representing students affected by the NEET paper leak. According to Khanna, those who organised the protests were responsible for bringing such individuals onto the streets.
He further alleged that the organisers had encouraged participants to engage in aggressive behaviour and publicly abuse people while pursuing an agenda to topple the government. He also claimed that those behind the protests spent their nights partying. There have been no reports of student protesters using firearms.
Khanna went on to say that he firmly believed these individuals were "cockroaches". Comparing them to pests removed from homes, he said such people should likewise be thrown out because of the language they had used. He maintained that the protests had never truly been about students affected by the NEET paper leak and instead described them as sponsored demonstrations driven by political motives.
He further argued that people who used abusive language could not genuinely represent students impacted by the examination controversy. Calling them "sold-out" individuals, he alleged they were contributing to efforts aimed at destabilising the government.
Addressing students directly, Khanna warned that their actions and statements during the protests could have long-term consequences. He alleged they were being manipulated and cautioned that if they continued on the same path, they might not receive support from either the police or the government. He also claimed such actions could affect their future employment prospects and visa applications, urging them to withdraw before it damaged their careers.
He captioned the video, "Throw away these cockroaches before it is too late."
Earlier, Khanna had shared another video criticising sections of the youth while posting multiple clips that allegedly showed people using obscene language against the Prime Minister.
Comments by other personalities
The controversy has also drawn comments from actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who earlier posted a selfie-style video on Instagram clarifying her own remarks after referring to the protesters as "cockroaches".
Ranaut said her criticism was directed at what she described as obscene behaviour during Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, arguing that such conduct should not be accepted as normal.
In the same video, she stressed that discipline and respect for social boundaries were essential for a functioning society and said that individual freedom should not come at the cost of hurting the rights or sentiments of others, including those related to family members, religious figures or political leaders.
She also criticised what she termed "feminazis" and, on the occasion of Guru Purnima, urged people to follow the teachings of their mentors and focus on self-improvement instead of what she described as "animalistic tendencies".
Ranaut's remarks came amid an online exchange with CJP spokesperson Saurav Das. Responding through a series of Instagram Stories, she questioned his credentials as a student, described him as "useless and unemployed", and defended her own achievements before entering politics.
