“Sonam Wangchuck And Umar Khalid Are My Heroes”: Prakash Raj Slams Criminalisation Of Dissent At KLF 2026
At a charged session at the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) 2026 titled “Criminalising Dissent: Who Gets Locked Up for Speaking Out”, actor and activist Prakash Raj launched a sharp critique of what he described as the growing suppression of free speech in India.
Sharing the stage with investigative journalist Josy Joseph, Prakash Raj named climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and student leader Umar Khalid as his “heroes”, saying they were targeted and jailed for “speaking the truth”.
He said dissenters who question power are increasingly branded as criminals, while those aligned with the ruling ideology enjoy impunity.
Referring to the current political climate, he alleged that Hindutva-driven politics has created an atmosphere of fear, particularly for minorities.
“Mob lynching, hate crimes and online outrage against Muslims are not isolated incidents anymore, they are systemic,” he said, drawing loud applause from the audience. The actor also revealed that he himself is facing 34 legal cases across the country, which he claimed were filed to intimidate and silence him.
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Pointing to what he called double standards in the system, Prakash Raj argued that while activists and critics are jailed or endlessly prosecuted, those accused in serious crimes manage to thrive politically.
He cited examples to underline how, in his view, accountability is selectively applied, allowing the powerful to “walk free” while dissenters remain behind bars.
Journalist Josy Joseph echoed similar concerns, warning that democratic institutions are being weakened by the normalisation of surveillance, arrests and social media trials.
The session concluded with a call to defend constitutional values and protect the right to question authority, which, Praksh Raj stressed, “is not anti-national, but deeply patriotic.”
