Shabana Azmi Praises Student Protests; Calls for Continued Resistance

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi voiced her admiration for the youth who have been staging protests for several weeks, saying their perseverance has finally yielded a tangible victory. The protests, which began in response to irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET‑UG) 2026, culminated in the resignation of Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday. Azmi, who has long been a vocal supporter of student movements, described the resignation as a “very important moment” for the cause.

In an interview with PTI, Azmi expressed pride in the students, noting, “So proud of our youth. I am truly humbled. Thank you for showing us that our Constitution is our greatest strength.” She added that the minister’s resignation is only the beginning of a broader struggle, insisting that the movement must continue until the entire educational system is overhauled and all student demands are met.

The actress joined the student‑led “Chalo Sansad” march at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where she condemned police actions against demonstrators who were lathi‑charged and faced tear‑gas attacks. Although she had to miss a protest in Mumbai due to swine flu, Azmi remained committed to the cause, stating that the campaign should not end with Pradhan’s resignation.

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation followed weeks of pressure from the “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), which demanded accountability for the NEET‑UG irregularities. In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan highlighted his lifelong commitment to education reform and his moral obligation to protect the youth. He explained that after the 3rd‑May 2026 exam irregularities were exposed, the government had ordered a CBI inquiry, cancelled the exam, announced a re‑examination, and decided to conduct future exams in computer‑based testing (CBT) mode. He emphasized that the immediate priority was to ensure that more than 20 lakh students could sit the new exam without complications.

Azmi’s participation in the protests underscores the film industry’s support for student rights. She reiterated that the resignation is a “first step towards the students’ victory” but urged continued resistance until the system is fully reformed and all grievances are addressed.