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Punjab Kings co-owner and Bollywood actress Preity Zinta has been facing massive wrath on social media for her shocking stand on the ongoing student protests across the country, demanding the sacking of the education minister, Dharmendra Pradhan.
After earlier extending her support to the ongoing student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and Sonam Wangchuk, the Punjab Kings co-owner has now claimed that the protests are being "hijacked by anti-national elements." Amid this, BCCI unhappy with CoE over India's injury concerns, seniors raise alarm.
'Bad Elements' comment on Student Protest lands Preity Zinta in trouble
In her latest post, Preity Zinta urged everyone to protect the original purpose of the agitation and said the voices of students demanding reforms should not be overshadowed by or 'hijacked' by anti-national elements. 'The Bollywood actress stressed that meaningful dialogue is the best way forward while keeping the focus on the students' genuine concerns.
Not just that, Preity Zinta also hinted at the presence of "bad elements" within and outside the country who might be exploiting students' anger and frustration during the agitation. She feels such forces could divert attention away from the real demands of the students and create unnecessary unrest.
Preity Zinta posted on her X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, July 22, morning: “While it’s important to support our students and ask for educational reforms that positively impact the future of our youth, it’s also very important that peaceful protests by students are not hijacked by anti-national elements to create chaos & change the nature of the protest. Seeing so much hate & divide online makes me wonder if bad elements in & outside our country have already started to work overtime to weaponize the anger & frustration felt by our students.”
PBKS co-owner calls for 'dialogue' between students and government
Preity Zinta backed India's democracy and law and order and urged both sides to hold meaningful talks while removing all "nefarious elements" and hidden agendas from the protest. These remarks sparked anger among the social media users, who have now mercilessly criticized her.
Preity Zinta further said in her post, “I have always believed in hard work, equality, and excellence, & that should never be compromised. I also believe in our democracy, law and order & our government; therefore, I sincerely hope that both sides enter into meaningful & constructive dialogue & weed out any nefarious elements & agendas out of this protest & conversation so the future is bright for our youth and for our democracy! 🇮🇳 Jai Hind!”
Preity Zinta's 'Nefarious Elements' remark backfires
Preity Zinta's post on the students’ protests triggered a social media storm, with many users accusing the actress of buttering up the government. Many slammed the actress for her sudden change in stance. One user wrote, “Clearly the people supporting this tweet without doubt show where your loyalties lie—I expected better from you.”
Another slammed her by saying, “This tweet is pure damage control, Preity Ji. Your tweet of yesterday was on a totally different alignment. You were directly blaming our security forces for hurting the students. One user said, “Madam, there is always a chance that these kinds of protests are filled with people of all types. And if you were unsure, why did you tweet at all?”
One user said, “Madam, there is always a chance of these kinds of protests; they are full of people of all kinds. But the govt. should have acted faster in this case and held some people accountable for all those paper leaks and non-transparency on the part of the govt. Dialogues should have started much before.”
Another trolled Preity by saying, “Script mil gaya hai" (You got a script). To which the Punjab Kings co-owner bluntly replied by saying, "Scripts are found in films... not in real life! Just FYI.” Amid this, David Warner faces possible 9-month jail term after pleading guilty to drink-driving charge.
Here's how Preity Zinta faces brutal online backlash
What is an anti national element? And what online hate and divide did you see? Who are the people outside of the country working to do something against us? You also know all this is irrelevant, untrue and gibberish. When you do not have the guts, keep quiet. Stick to Ting ..
— M'M (@NotThatMe) July 22, 2026
Got the script from the Bee Jay Pee ?
— Rahil Mohammed | Independent Journalist (@iamRahilM) July 22, 2026
Script mil Gaya ha.....
— Rahil shah (@RahilShahINC) July 22, 2026
Can you name those Anti nationals? Pathetic spineless "actress"🤮🤮
— अजिंक्यतारा🚩 (@AjinkyaaSpeaks_) July 22, 2026
Just shut up .. if you don’t come for support like your other Bollywood clan that’s much better than cleverly sowing a seed of suspicion on the movement to divide the protesters … shameful…
— Ocean Summer (@summerlions99) July 22, 2026
The PR agencies started their toolkit! Great! Keep it up! 👍 Everything will be remembered..
— IamAbdulBaqi (@abdulbakhisayed) July 22, 2026
You have reduced yourself to godi media, you'll turn coat after regime change.
— Narendra Mahajan (@narendramahajan) July 22, 2026
She lives in America, sends her children to school there, yet defends Modi Govt, whose minister calls students "Deshdrohi" here, even after 20+students died by suicide due to his failure
— Kya huwa (@Kyahuwaa) July 22, 2026
To protect herself from ED cases,this celebrity has stooped this low @realpreityzinta shame
Mam we respect you so much , we love you so much!!!! Please don't say such words... They wants to put a tag of anti-national on student so they can do any cruelty...... You have seen the video how police goons are hitting the students, specially molesting the girls....
— Anshul Yadav (@AnshulY79233) July 22, 2026
Looks like you’re thoughts have been hijacked , go run your IPL Team and business. All the looted money BJP have from middle class people. People like you are also one of the beneficiaries. So to keep that money safe. You have to come with this bullshit narrative shame on you.
— sukhpal singh (@cheemasukhi1) July 22, 2026
Ignoring a peaceful protest for 20 days and responding only after it turns violent sends the wrong message. The violence is on the government, the paper leak is on gov, the scams is on gov. It's high time the people on thrones take accountability.
— n c (@nc74563637) July 22, 2026
Can't wait to see you butter up the new regime once the govt changes.
— Virat (@ViratSi59321256) July 22, 2026
You're 'NOW" nothing but a spokesperson for a certain party pic.twitter.com/qd1QsjluhS
Paytm payment received. Script received. You already own an IPL team. How much more money you want to make by being sold out ?
— Dr.Vardhman (@vardhmandagli) July 22, 2026
What anti national elements?? Name them properly so that we know
— Tanmay Khandelwal (@k43220993) July 22, 2026
Have you not seen delhi police sexually assaulting students ?? Or the people in civil dress assaulting protesters or people in RAF Uniform but no nametag??
— dexter (@stalliondexter) July 22, 2026
