‘Not one word of empathy’: Dia Mirza questions Indian PM’s response to student protests

Bollywood actress Dia Mirza on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to the ongoing student protests, saying his statement came too late and failed to address the concerns of students and families affected by the crisis.

Students have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET examination paper leak.

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On Thursday morning, Modi announced on X that fast-track courts would be established to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leak cases. Later that night, he released a video message assuring protesting students that stricter action would be taken.

Responding to the announcement, Mirza shared a strongly worded note on Instagram, expressing disappointment with the prime minister's remarks.

"Not one word of empathy for the parents who have lost their children, for the children who have died, for the incredible resilience of students demanding their rights, or for Sonam ji and the students who remained on a hunger strike for weeks," she wrote.

Questioning the delay in the government's response, Mirza added: "How hard can it be, Sir? It took 47 days for you to say something. And now that you have, you have said nothing — nothing that can heal the millions of broken hearts."

The actor had earlier voiced her support for the student movement in a separate social media post.

"I stand with the students of this nation. I support the right to peaceful protest. I stand by the demand for accountability, transparency and reforms in our education system," she wrote.

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Mirza is among several Bollywood personalities who have publicly backed the student movement in recent days. Actors including Salman Khan, Sonu Sood, Shabana Azmi, Ishaan Khatter, Soha Ali Khan, Vir Das, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Prakash Raj and Diljit Dosanjh have voiced support for the protesters on social media.