Aamir Khan’s daughter Ira Khan has addressed questions over why she remained silent on the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protests, saying she did not feel she had anything meaningful to contribute to the conversation.Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Ira shared a lengthy video explaining her decision, adding that her approach to distressing news is shaped by her mental health and the need to protect her emotional well-being.Her statement comes days after several Bollywood celebrities, including Salman Khan, Imran Khan, Alia Bhatt, Shatrughan Sinha, Sonakshi Sinha, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Anupam Kher, Shekhar Suman and others expressed support for the students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.Explaining why she chose not to comment publicly, Ira said she did not believe her opinion would have added value to the ongoing discussion.“It is true that I am an advocate for mental health and I ask for your attention whenever I speak on these topics. I think that mental health is all of life,” she said.She added, “The first thing that comes to my mind is that I didn’t think I had anything to say that was going to add to the conversation in any manner.”
‘I don’t look at the news’
Ira revealed that she deliberately avoids consuming distressing news because it leaves her feeling overwhelmed and helpless.“I usually don’t look at it. I don’t go to my Explore page. I have not seen any videos of violence or any videos of the protest. I know they are happening and I know what is happening, but I don’t let myself emotionally reach it because it really bothers me and I get overwhelmed,” she said.Instead, she explained that she prefers to focus her energy on what individuals can do within their own capacity rather than constantly engaging with upsetting news.“I divert my energy and focus to figure out how an individual person can navigate the best they can… I’m not saying this is the best approach, but this is what I do,” she added.
Cousin’s safety made her ‘freak out’
Ira shared that the issue became personal when someone sent her a reel claiming her cousin Zayn Marie Khan was among those being detained during one of the protests.“I got sent one reel and was told that my cousin was in it and she was potentially being detained at one of the protests and I freaked out. As soon as I realised that she was safe, I went back to work,” she said.She added that if her silence was interpreted as indifference, it was never her intention.“I did not say anything because I didn’t realise that me saying anything would make a difference… If me not speaking up implied in any manner that I don’t care, then I am sorry. That was not my intention,” she said.
‘Looking away is a privilege’
In the caption accompanying her video, Ira acknowledged that being able to disconnect from the news is a privilege.“I see that being able to look away… having the option at all to look away… is a privilege. I’m figuring out what my most helpful role can be that aligns with my values and that’s what I’ll do,” she wrote.
PM Narendra Modi promises ‘more strict actions against paper leaks’
For nearly a month, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protest has continued at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, with activist Sonam Wangchuk and several students joining the movement, including through a hunger strike.The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET paper leak irregularities and are calling for broader reforms to the examination system.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced tougher measures against paper leaks, as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 examination irregularities continued across the country.In a self-recorded video shared on X, the Prime Minister said the Union Cabinet would consider a draft Bill proposing Fast-Track Courts and stricter punishment for those involved in paper leak cases.“I have issued directions to departments to set up Fast-Track Courts,” Modi said, adding that the government had already acted against those accused in recent examination paper leak cases.“And that is why, in the last two and a half months since the paper leak incidents, several major steps have been taken. The culprits have been caught; they are currently in jail,” he said.The announcement came as the student agitation over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 irregularities continued, with protesters demanding accountability and reforms to the examination system.Meanwhile, on Friday, Prime Minister Modi urged activist Sonam Wangchuk to prioritise his health after he ended his 26-day hunger strike.Wangchuk’s fast had attracted nationwide attention, with leaders from across political parties and civil society appealing to him to call off the protest.Earlier, Wangchuk said that 65 Members of Parliament had either visited him or signed letters urging him to end the hunger strike, expressing concern that the prolonged protest could lead to unrest.He said his decision to conclude the fast came after prolonged discussions on the conditions surrounding the protest and stressed that it was important to prevent violence of any kind.