Shabana Azmi diagnosed with Swine Flu, misses Mumbai Protest but backs NEET student movement

Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has been diagnosed with H1N1 (swine flu) and has been advised complete bed rest by doctors. As a result, she could not attend a student protest held at Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Friday. Azmi had earlier spent three days with students protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where they were demanding action over alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak.

Stood With Students at Delhi Protest

Shabana Azmi was one of the first well-known personalities from the film industry to openly support the student movement led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). She joined students and citizens during the "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20 and stood with them as they demanded accountability and reforms in the education system. Videos of her participation were widely shared on social media, with many praising her support for the students.

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A post shared by Shabana Azmi (@azmishabana18)

Health Update Shared on Instagram

Despite falling ill, Azmi expressed her continued support for the students. Sharing an update on Instagram, she wrote that she had been diagnosed with H1N1 and needed to stay in isolation for five days. She also thanked the protesters for their dedication and said she stood in solidarity with their cause, even though she could not be physically present at the Mumbai demonstration.

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Asthma Attack During Delhi Demonstration

After participating in the Delhi protest, the 75-year-old actor revealed that she suffered an asthma attack after being exposed to tear gas. Speaking about the incident, Azmi said she is an asthma patient and used her inhaler to recover. She was taken to a nearby building to catch her breath but later returned to the protest site to meet students who had reportedly faced a police lathi charge. She praised the courage of the young protesters and said their determination deeply inspired her.

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Student Movement Continues Across the Country

The student protest at Jantar Mantar has continued for nearly a month and has now grown into a nationwide movement. Activist Sonam Wangchuk and several students had joined the protest, with Wangchuk observing a hunger strike for over 20 days before ending it on Friday. The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a fair investigation into the alleged NEET paper leak, and major reforms in India's education system. Meanwhile, the government has stated that the accused have been arrested and that fast-track courts will handle the case, while more protests are expected to continue in the coming days.

- PTC PUNJABI