Veteran actor and former Member of Parliament Shabana Azmi joined student protesters in Delhi to condemn police repression during recent demonstrations [1].
Azmi's participation brings high-profile visibility to the grievances of student activists and challenges official narratives regarding the nature of the unrest in the capital.
Azmi arrived at Jantar Mantar on July 19, 2024 [2], and participated in the "Chalo Sansad" march organized by the CJP on July 20, 2026 [2]. During the events, she witnessed police forces deploying tear gas and lathi charges against the crowds [1]. Azmi said the students remained disciplined and committed to non-violent protest despite the police response [1].
Thousands of participants gathered for the protest [1]. Azmi said she rejected claims that the students had initiated the confrontations with law enforcement [1]. Furthermore, she said that opposition parties were not the organizers of the demonstrations, framing the movement as a youth-led effort [1].
The 75-year-old actress continued her participation in the protests even as reports indicated her health had deteriorated [2]. Her presence at the march toward Parliament served as a gesture of solidarity with the youth, emphasizing a commitment to democratic dissent, and the right to peaceful assembly.
By speaking out against the use of batons and chemical irritants, Azmi sought to pivot the public conversation away from the volatility of the crowds and toward the tactics of the security forces [1].
“Azmi said the students remained disciplined and committed to non-violent protest.”
The involvement of a respected public figure like Shabana Azmi provides a layer of political legitimacy to student-led movements. By explicitly denying that opposition parties orchestrated the protests, she reinforces the narrative that the unrest is a spontaneous, organic expression of youth dissatisfaction rather than a calculated political maneuver.
