Singer Neha Bhasin takes swipe at Bhumi Pednekar amid NEET protest row remarks

Singer Neha Bhasin criticised actor Bhumi Pednekar over her remarks on the NEET-UG 2026 protests. In a detailed post shared on Instagram, she said the conversation should have also focused on the alleged police excesses against student protesters instead of only condemning abusive slogans directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Bhumi recently shared a video on Instagram condemning the use of abusive language against the Prime Minister during the protests. Her remarks sparked criticism online, with many questioning why she had not commented on the police action against students during the Sansad March on July 20.Reacting to the controversy, Neha said she would have respected the Prime Minister more if there had also been accountability for what she described as police officers "openly, inappropriately touching women during the protests."Taking a swipe at Bhumi, she wrote, "Bhumi Pednekar Lock Upp pe bhi scripted thi aur protests ko lekar bhi. Gooda nahi hai toh chup rehna best hai behen (She was scripted on Lock Upp, and she's scripted about the protests as well. If you don't have the guts, it's best to keep quiet, sister)."See her post here:What was Bhumi Pednekar's video aboutIn her video, Bhumi said, "Looking at the videos surfacing now, the kind of language being used, and the way the youth of our country are speaking. This isn't how we talk, man. We are talking about someone who holds the highest office in the land today. And it's not just about the office; would we ever speak like this to the elders in our own homes? Can we really resort to using abusive language?"She further said, "Guys, this isn't our culture; it's wrong, and this really bothered me. That's why I wanted to come forward and address this. A country will only progress when, collectively and unitedly, we discuss both our flaws and our strengths. Our culture and value system form our backbone. We shouldn't stray from them, otherwise we won't be able to communicate the right things in the right way or bring about meaningful change."Watch the clip here:Bhumi's comments came amid nationwide protests over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), thousands of students gathered outside Delhi's Jantar Mantar demanding sweeping reforms in the education system and the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.Pradhan resigned on July 25, but the protesters and CJP have continued to press for broader reforms.The demonstrations escalated on July 20 when police used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters marching towards Parliament. Videos shared online appeared to show policemen in plain clothes assaulting demonstrators, triggering widespread outrage.Bhumi's critics argued that while she condemned the protesters' language, she did not address the injuries allegedly sustained by students during the police crackdown.- EndsPublished On: Aug 5, 2026 06:08 IST