Devoleena Bhattacharjee flags swords at 'peaceful' student protest
Synopsis
Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee spotlighted a jarring image from an ongoing student protest — demonstrators carrying swords in front of police — and asked publicly: is this still a peaceful movement? Her post adds to a series of interventions in which she has backed Sonam Wangchuk's cause while warning that the protest's original agenda may be slipping.
Key Takeaways
Devoleena Bhattacharjee reposted a video on X on 23 July showing student protesters brandishing swords before police.
Her caption — 'Student protest with Swords?' — questioned the protest's characterisation as peaceful.
She had earlier criticised the chaotic turn of a Monday protest backed by activist Sonam Wangchuk .
A separate viral video allegedly showed a young man claiming youth would replace older people in Parliament.
Devoleena has expressed support for Wangchuk's cause while cautioning against what she calls an agenda drift.
Actress Devoleena Bhattacharjee on 23 July questioned the nature of an ongoing student protest after reposting a video on X (formerly Twitter) that showed demonstrators brandishing swords in front of police personnel — a sharp contrast to the protest's earlier characterisation as peaceful. Her post, captioned 'Student protest with Swords?', drew immediate attention online.
What the Video Showed
The clip, originally shared by another user and reposted by Devoleena, depicted protesters displaying swords before police at the demonstration site. The actress raised pointed concerns over the presence of weapons at what had been publicly described as a non-violent student movement.
Devoleena's Broader Stand on the Protests
This is not the first time Devoleena has spoken out about the protests. In the days leading up to her latest post, she had also questioned activist Sonam Wangchuk's protest, arguing that its original purpose appeared to be losing focus. She had urged students to keep their movement centred on education and resist any attempts to divert it from its intended objective.
On Wednesday, she reacted strongly to a protest backed by Wangchuk on Monday that reportedly turned chaotic. Sharing a separate video in which a young man was allegedly heard saying that youth would now sit in Parliament and make decisions — and that there was no need for older people — the actress wrote a lengthy note warning that the movement appeared to be taking an unwanted turn.
Support for Wangchuk, Caution on Agenda Drift
Notably, Devoleena has maintained that she supports climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's cause. Her criticism has been directed not at Wangchuk himself but at what she described as a creeping shift in the movement's agenda — one she fears could undermine its credibility and original goals.
About Devoleena Bhattacharjee
Devoleena rose to national recognition through her portrayal of Gopi Bahu in the long-running television series 'Saath Nibhana Saathiya', where her on-screen chemistry with the character of Kokila became a fan favourite. She later participated in the reality show Bigg Boss, further expanding her public profile. Her willingness to engage with political and social issues on social media has made her a recurring voice in public discourse.
Point of View
It signals that the protest's optics — swords, inflammatory rhetoric about Parliament — are becoming a liability that sympathisers themselves can no longer ignore. The mainstream coverage has focused on the spectacle; the harder question is whether student leadership has a plan to reclaim the narrative before it is defined entirely by its most disruptive moments.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Devoleena Bhattacharjee post about the student protest?
Devoleena Bhattacharjee reposted a video on X on 23 July showing protesters carrying swords in front of police, captioning it 'Student protest with Swords?' She raised concerns about the protest's peaceful characterisation.
Who is Sonam Wangchuk and what is his connection to the protest?
Sonam Wangchuk is a climate and education activist whose cause the protest has been associated with. Devoleena has expressed support for Wangchuk while criticising what she sees as a drift in the movement's agenda away from its original educational focus.
What did the viral video shared by Devoleena show?
The video, originally posted by another user and reposted by Devoleena, showed demonstrators displaying swords before police personnel at the protest site. A separate video she shared allegedly featured a young man claiming youth would now govern Parliament without older people.
Has Devoleena spoken about student protests before this post?
Yes. In the days prior, Devoleena had questioned the direction of the Sonam Wangchuk-backed protest after it reportedly turned chaotic on Monday, and had earlier urged students to keep their movement focused on education.
Who is Devoleena Bhattacharjee?
Devoleena Bhattacharjee is an Indian actress best known for playing Gopi Bahu in the television series 'Saath Nibhana Saathiya'. She also appeared on the reality show Bigg Boss and is known for actively engaging with social and political issues on social media.
