Sakhi Bandhu, a student activist associated with Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), emerged as a widely discussed figure during India’s student protests in July 2026. Known for their outspoken political commentary, satirical Instagram videos and participation in student demonstrations, Sakhi attracted considerable attention on social media.
A queer student who uses they/them pronouns, Sakhi became part of a wider conversation about student activism, freedom of expression, political dissent and the treatment of young protesters in India. Their online visibility also brought criticism, personal attacks and questions about the moderation of protest-related content on social media platforms.
1. Who Is Sakhi Bandhu?
Sakhi Bandhu is a student of Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi and is affiliated with the Students’ Federation of India, a student organisation associated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
They became recognised beyond campus politics through their social media presence, particularly videos commenting on political developments and student demonstrations. Sakhi uses humour, satire and direct political messaging to communicate their views.
Their identity as a queer student has also become part of the public discussion surrounding the online response to their activism. Sakhi uses they/them pronouns, and their experience highlights the additional challenges that gender-diverse individuals can face when participating in public political debates.
2. Sakhi’s Role in the July 2026 Student Protests
Sakhi attracted widespread attention during the student demonstrations in New Delhi in July 2026. The protests were connected to grievances surrounding the NEET-UG 2026 examination controversy and demands for accountability from the Union Education Ministry.
On July 20, protesters associated with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organised a ‘Sansad Chalo’ march towards Parliament, demanding the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the handling of the examination controversy.
Sakhi participated in the protest and subsequently shared videos describing the police action against demonstrators. They alleged that protesters were beaten during the confrontation and that their clothes were torn.
Their videos provided a social media account of events surrounding the demonstration and attracted millions of views. The protest-related content helped make Sakhi a recognisable personality within the online student movement.
Sakhi’s participation was also part of their broader involvement in student organising through SFI.
3. How Satirical Videos Made Sakhi Popular
One of the major reasons behind Sakhi’s growing online visibility was their use of satire to comment on political and social issues.
Their Instagram reels featured humorous criticism of government policies, unemployment and the conduct of police personnel during demonstrations. The phrase ‘Vastegune Huia’ also became associated with their viral online presence.
Rather than relying exclusively on conventional protest messaging, Sakhi used short videos, parody and humour to reach younger audiences. Their content circulated across Instagram and X, attracting attention from social media users and political commentators.
This growing visibility transformed Sakhi from a student activist known primarily within university circles into a widely discussed face of the 2026 student protests.
4. Instagram Reel Removals and the Content Moderation Controversy
In August 2026, Sakhi raised concerns after several of their protest-related Instagram reels became unavailable in India.
According to a report by ThePrint published on August 7, four videos uploaded between July 20 and July 25 had been removed or restricted. One featured Sakhi describing injuries and torn clothing following the July 20 demonstration. Other videos included satire about Delhi Police, a parody concerning unemployment and an interaction with food volunteer Mohammed Junaid.
Sakhi questioned why videos documenting the protest and police action were being restricted.
Instagram notifications reportedly referred to community standards and government or law-enforcement notices under India’s Information Technology framework.
A Delhi Police official told ThePrint that the department regularly flags content considered objectionable and denied that the action was specifically directed at CJP-related posts.
The incident brought renewed attention to questions surrounding online political expression, platform moderation and the visibility of protest-related documentation.
5. Online Harassment and Attacks on Sakhi’s Identity
Sakhi’s growing popularity also brought a wave of online hostility. They reported receiving abusive messages, body-shaming comments and personal attacks following their participation in the protests.
A Bloomberg report published by The Japan Times on August 7, 2026, described the threats and harassment Sakhi said they had experienced. These included attacks relating to their gender identity and threats of sexual violence.
A separate investigation published by DFRAC on August 24, 2026, documented abusive comments directed at Sakhi and other people who became prominent during the July demonstrations.
Sakhi also faced allegations online that they were a paid protester. Such claims were part of the social media backlash and should not be treated as established facts.
The experience brought attention to the challenges faced by young activists whose political participation becomes highly visible online, particularly when their gender identity and personal appearance become targets of abuse.
6. Why Sakhi Bandhu Became a Recognisable Face of Student Activism
Sakhi Bandhu’s emergence during the 2026 student protests reflects the growing role of social media in shaping student movements in India.
Their activism combined participation in demonstrations with digital communication, satire and political commentary. Their videos helped bring protest-related events to audiences beyond the physical demonstration sites.
At the same time, the controversy surrounding their removed Instagram videos and reported online harassment raised broader questions about the safety of student activists and the space available for political expression on digital platforms.
For Sakhi, the attention surrounding the protests placed their student activism, queer identity and online presence at the centre of a wider public discussion.
Their story offers a glimpse into how a new generation of student activists is using social media to participate in political conversations, document demonstrations and communicate their views to a much larger audience.
