John Cusack backs Indian student protests over NEET leak

Hollywood actor John Cusack has voiced support for ongoing student-led protests in India, bringing international attention to demonstrations centered on allegations of irregularities in the national education system. Cusack shared his views on the social media platform X on July 23, 2026, highlighting an essay by Booker Prize-winning author and activist Arundhati Roy titled "Cockroach Democracy: Unarmed and Dangerous."

In his post, Cusack wrote, "Beautiful news from my favorite fellow cockroach," a reference to the symbolic term adopted by the protest movement, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). His comment represents one of the first public endorsements from a major international film personality regarding the protests, which have been underway for over a month.

The demonstrations, led by students, were sparked by concerns over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and allegations of paper leaks. Protesters have demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and called for greater accountability and reform in the competitive examination process.

Tensions escalated on July 20, when the CJP organized a "Chalo Sansad" march in Delhi, with...