NEW DELHI: Ahead of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) proposed ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on Monday, veteran actress Shabana Azmi and actor-filmmaker Prakash Raj joined protesters at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, adding to the growing support for the agitation.Earlier in the day, veteran actress Shabana Azmi stressed that the protest was peaceful and rooted in constitutional values.“All of us who are here, have come for a peaceful protest, to exercise the right granted to us by our country’s constitution. Mahatma Gandhi taught us how to conduct a peaceful protest, and we have come here on that very foundation. We have absolutely no intention of causing any kind of violence, and we stand here firmly in that hope.”Among the celebrities who physically joined the protest at Jantar Mantar are Shabana Azmi, Prakash Raj, Kunal Kamra and Swara Bhasker.Meanwhile, Soni Razdan, Zeenat Aman, Abhay Deol, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Omi Vaidya and Sonakshi Sinha have publicly backed the movement and appealed for a peaceful protest.The march comes after weeks of demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, where the CJP has been demanding Union education minister Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.The organisation has urged participants to carry only the national flag and avoid political party flags to maintain the non-partisan nature of the protest.The agitation gained further momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to hospital during his indefinite fast, prompting fresh expressions of solidarity from members of the film fraternity.Delhi Police have tightened security across central Delhi ahead of the proposed march and said no permission had been granted for the procession, warning that legal action would be taken against anyone violating prohibitory orders during the demonstration.
