New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was removed from Jantar Mantar on Saturday by Delhi Police and admitted for medical care, declared in a handwritten note on Monday that he would continue his fast, now in its 23rd day, until protesting student leaders were allowed to meet Parliamentarians or he himself was permitted to meet them in hospital.
“I will continue my fast (Day 23),” he wrote in a signed statement from Safdarjung Hospital, adding that seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth were being dealt with, he had decided to continue his fast until the youth leaders were allowed to meet Parliamentarians at Sansad Bhavan or he was allowed to meet them at the hospital.
He expressed hope that the government would fix the Education Minister’s accountability before that.
The protestors were sitting in a demonstration at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and seeking urgent reforms in India’s education system. The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), grew louder after Wangchuk’s forced hospitalisation.
His health condition sparked concern among supporters, who praised his determination but urged authorities to engage constructively with the youth’s grievances.
Police had to forcibly stop the agitating students from storming the Parliament building on Monday. CJP members staged the march seeking to amplify their demands for accountability and dialogue with MPs.
“I am touched and moved by how the youth have held on to peace despite provocation, and I appeal to the government and police force to resolve the issue by simply allowing the students to present their grievances before Parliament today or tomorrow. I am sure the young protesters will show the same patience and tolerance tomorrow as they did today,” Wangchuk added in the statement, released on social media platform X.
The protests began as a response to India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant allegedly comparing unemployed young people taking up activism to cockroaches and parasites, but have now grown into an active movement.
They picked up momentum after the NEET medical entrance exam was cancelled following a leak, and reports emerged about students committing suicide.
(IANS)
