Published Jul 22, 2026 | 7:20 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 22, 2026 | 7:20 PM
Ravi Shankar and K Annamalai
Synopsis: Former BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai and Art of Living founder Ravi Shankar have expressed support for the ongoing student protests and urged the Centre to hold talks with the demonstrators. Annamalai said repeated failures in conducting the NEET examination and a lack of accountability had eroded students’ confidence. He also claimed that students had a “responsibility” to stop vested interests from exploiting the protests. Actor Preity Zinta likewise claimed that “bad elements” could be attempting to exploit the agitation.
Former BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai and Art of Living founder Ravi Shankar on Wednesday, 22 July, expressed support for the ongoing student protests and urged the Union government to engage in dialogue with the demonstrators. Bollywood actor Preity Zinta claimed that “bad elements” from within and outside the country might be behind the protests.
Annamalai, who has long been a staunch defender of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), said the unrest stemmed from repeated failures in conducting the common medical entrance test and a lack of accountability, which had eroded students’ confidence.
“Over the past many years, I have taken a personal stand in support of the NEET examination, arguing that it brought uniformity in student selection across the country and gave students from underprivileged backgrounds a real shot at pursuing their dream of medical education. In the last 5 years, the NEET UG question paper has leaked thrice. Imagine the amount of pressure that it puts on students, who had to go through the examination process yet another time when the system that was supposed to bring in uniformity was failing,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Yet there was no accountability, and I believe strongly that it was that moment that brought in a shift in the minds of the students to take to the streets to cry their hearts out.”
Over the past many years, I have taken a personal stand in support of the NEET examination, arguing that it brought uniformity in student selection across the country and gave students from underprivileged backgrounds a real shot at pursuing their dream of medical education. In…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) July 22, 2026
He termed the protests a “fundamental right in a democracy” and asked why the BJP-led Central government had taken so long to open a dialogue with the protesters.
“Why was meaningful engagement delayed until the protest had escalated to a flashpoint? What kept you waiting?” he asked.
Also Read: To resign or not? Inside story of how Dharmendra Pradhan is holding on
Spiritual guru Ravi Shankar expressed sorrow over the crackdown against the protesters, saying the youth deserve to be heard with patience.
“The voices of India’s youth deserve to be heard with patience. A breakdown in communication serves no one and is deeply unfortunate. Very sorry to see the current state of affairs,” he wrote in a post on X.
Shankar has long been a close supporter of the BJP government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The latter inaugurated the Dhyan Mandir at the Art of Living International Centre in Bengaluru in May this year, coinciding with Shankar’s 70th birthday and the organisation’s 45th anniversary.
The voices of India’s youth deserve to be heard with patience. A breakdown in communication serves no one and is deeply unfortunate. Very sorry to see the current state of affairs.
— Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@Gurudev) July 21, 2026
Annamalai, who quit the BJP earlier this year to chart his own course in politics with the “We the Leaders” movement, urged the Union government to engage “in meaningful dialogue, uphold transparency, and take swift, appropriate action to address the concerns at hand.”
“The strength of any nation lies in the confidence its youth place in its institutions. If our students lose faith in the fairness and credibility of our education system, we are jeopardising the future of our nation,” he said.
At the same time, he claimed that vested interests could hijack the student protests if the students and those leading them were not careful.
“The students and the people who are leading them also have a responsibility here. It is natural that when a protest stays on for weeks, people with vested interests will take the stage to air views that are either completely irrelevant to the initial demands of the protests or would try to completely hijack it to serve their agenda,” he wrote.
“If you remain silent and let these people with vested interests further their agenda, then you are deviating from your core objectives. Please do not let it happen!”
Also Read: Manic Monday: When books clashed with police batons for a better India
Actor Preity Zinta also claimed that “bad elements in & outside our country” might have already been working “overtime” to weaponise the students’ anger and frustration.
“While it’s important to support our students and ask for educational reforms that positively impact the future of our youth, it’s also very important that peaceful protests by students are not hijacked by anti-national elements to create chaos & change the nature of the protest,” she wrote in a post on X.
“Seeing so much hate & divide online makes me wonder if bad elements in & outside our country have already started to work overtime to weaponise the anger & frustration felt by our students.”
While it’s important to support our students and ask for educational reforms that positively impact the future of our youth, it’s also very important that peaceful protests by students are Not hijacked by anti national elements to create chaos & change the nature of the protest.…
— Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) July 22, 2026
She urged “both sides” to enter into dialogue and “weed out any nefarious elements” from the conversation.
“I have always believed in hard work, equality and excellence & that should never be compromised. I also believe in our democracy, law and order & our government, therefore I sincerely hope that both sides enter into meaningful & constructive dialogue & weed out any nefarious elements & agendas out of this protest & conversation, so the future is bright for our youth and for our democracy!” she added.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
