Actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut has been keeping a close watch on the nationwide discussions surrounding the NEET protests. Amid the ongoing controversy, she shifted focus to celebrate the success of NEET UG 2026 topper Vaishnavi Das, praising her achievement through an Instagram Story.Kangana reposted a video of Vaishnavi’s interview that had gone viral online. The Hyderabad-based student secured All India Rank (AIR) 20 after scoring an impressive 700 out of 720 in the examination. During the interview, Vaishnavi shared that she was celebrating Rath Yatra with her parents when the results were announced. Responding to that detail, Kangana reflected on the role of faith in success.Sharing the clip on Instagram Stories, Kangana wrote, “Never seen or met an atheist topper/winner. They always know hard work was theirs but grace came from else.” Her post came after Vaishnavi described the emotional moment she found out about her rank.Speaking to ANI, Vaishnavi recalled that she and her family were attending Rath Yatra celebrations when the NEET results were declared. What started as a festive family outing soon turned into a life-changing memory.“I was not at home when the results came out. I was in the car with my parents as it was Rath Yatra, and since I am Odia, we had gone to see the celebrations. We had just passed the temple when the results were released, I screamed ‘20’ to my parents. We stopped the car on the side of the road and just sat there. I cried, and the entire journey felt unbelievable. It is still sinking in,” she added.Earlier this week, Kangana also addressed the ongoing protests while speaking to ANI during the Parliament’s monsoon session. She said Parliament is the appropriate forum to debate national issues and seek accountability from the government.“Our parliamentary session is on — so that we can discuss all issues in detail, and the government is held accountable for everything. That is its purpose, and we want the session to proceed and for them to raise their questions there, but if they create a ruckus and cause chaos there, as they are doing with this protest, then that is not right,” she said, according to ANI.The actor-politician also objected to demands seeking the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying governments should not be forced into such decisions.“You cannot arm-twist the government into deciding who to sack and who to keep. This arm-twisting is not good,” Ranaut said.Vaishnavi Das’ accomplishment comes at a time when NEET continues to dominate public discourse. The controversy erupted after allegations of a paper leak raised questions over the transparency and fairness of the examination, sparking outrage among lakhs of medical aspirants across the country.The debate has since expanded beyond the exam itself. Reports of several students dying by suicide amid the intense pressure associated with NEET preparation have reignited concerns over the mental health of aspirants and demands for greater accountability within the education system.As public anger intensified, a satirical citizens’ movement called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) emerged as a prominent symbol of protest. The name was inspired by a remark in which Chief Justice of India Surya Kant allegedly referred to unemployed youth activists as “cockroaches.” Rather than distancing themselves from the term, many students adopted it as a badge of resistance. What began as an online campaign soon evolved into street demonstrations, with students, parents, teachers and supporters gathering at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and in several other cities.The protesters have demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, ₹1 crore in compensation for the families of students who died by suicide, and the release of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was forcibly taken to a hospital while observing an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
