Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has spoken about a health scare she experienced while participating in the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) Chalo Sansad protest in Delhi on Monday. The actor, who joined the demonstration, revealed that she suffered an asthma attack after tear gas was used during the protest.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Azmi shared that despite the medical emergency, she returned to the protest after using her inhaler and recovered for a brief period. The demonstration was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijeet Dipke, along with activist Sonam Wangchuk and students protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
Shabana Azmi Recalls Asthma Attack During CJP Protest
Recalling the incident, Azmi told The Indian Express, “I am an asthmatic and got an attack because of the tear gas, but I had my pump with me so I am ok now. I was respectfully escorted to a nearby building and after catching my breath, I went right back and spoke to the students who had been lathicharged. Their spirit is unprecedented. My salaams to all of them.”
Shabana Azmi On Being Labelled As ‘Anti-Modi’
During the interview, Azmi also responded to criticism which suggested that her support for Wangchuk and the CJP protest shows her opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rejecting that perception, she said she has consistently raised her voice on issues she believes in, irrespective of which political party was in power. Azmi pointed to her past protests against the Congress over activist Safdar Hashmi’s murder and her participation in the Navara Haq movement for slum rehabilitation in Mumbai which included a five day hunger strike.
She also recalled protesting against senior Congress leader HKL Bhagat during the International Film Festival of India in Delhi in 1989 and said she had criticised Left parties following Hashmi’s death as well. She emphasised that she has never aligned herself with any political party and said she has always stayed away from partisan politics.
Javed Akhtar And Shabana Azmi Had Written To Prime Minister
Azmi also revealed that she and her husband lyricist screenwriter Javed Akhtar had attempted to reach out to PM Modi before participating in the protest.
She told The Indian Express that they wrote to PM Modi on July 15 where they had requested a dialogue be initiated with Wangchuk. According to Azmi, the letter was sent privately with the assurance that it would not be made public.
The actor said they received a response stating that they would hear back within two days. But after waiting without any further communication, they eventually decided to join the protest in Delhi.
Why Were CJP, Sonam Wangchuk And Students Protesting?
The Chalo Sansad march was organised by CJP, led by Abhijeet Dipke, along with Sonam Wangchuk and student groups protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
Apart from demanding accountability over the examination process, the protesters have been calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The demonstration witnessed heightened security arrangements with visuals from the site which showed police personnel using tear gas and carrying out an alleged lathi charge as they dispersed protesters.
