CID actor Dayanand Shetty says he didn’t understand students protesting over paper leak: ‘Been happening for years’

Dayanand Shetty (Pic/Instagram)

The ongoing student protest over the alleged NEET paper leak has received reactions from several celebrities. Now, CID actor Dayanand Shetty has shared his views on the controversy. While speaking about the issue, he questioned why it has become such a major debate in 2026 and urged parents not to put excessive pressure on children.

Dayanand Shetty on student protest

In a viral video on Twitter, CID actor Dayanand said, "Yeh jo paper leak ka mudda chal raha hai, yeh sadiyon se har school, college, university aur state exams mein hota aaya hai. Yeh is saal bhi hua, pichhle saal bhi hua aur usse pehle bhi hota raha hai. Lekin 2026 mein aisa kya alag ho gaya ki yeh itna bada mudda ban gaya, yeh meri samajh se bahar hai. I am at a loss for words. Isliye main maa-baap se kehna chahta hoon ki bachchon par zyada pressure mat daliye. Unke upar pehle hi bahut pressure hota hai ki unhe apne parents ki expectations par khara utarna hai. Bachche hain, unhe apni zindagi jeene dijiye. Ek parivaar ki tarah khushi se rahiye aur unhe wahi karne dijiye jo unhe pasand hai."

(The issue of paper leaks has existed for years across schools, colleges, universities, and state-level examinations. It has happened this year, last year, and even before that. But I fail to understand what was so different in 2026 that it turned into such a huge issue. I am at a loss for words. That's why I want to tell parents not to put too much pressure on their children. They are already under immense pressure to live up to their parents' expectations. They are children; let them enjoy their lives. Stay together as a family and allow them to pursue what they truly enjoy.)

About student protest

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan announced his resignation on Saturday, July 25, marking a major development in the ongoing student protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. The resignation comes after weeks of protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with students demanding accountability, education reforms, and Pradhan's exit from the ministry.

Over the past few weeks, the protests have received support from several members of the entertainment industry, including Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh, Shabana Azmi, Prakash Raj, and others.