New Delhi, July 18: Opposition leaders have sharply criticized the BJP-led central government following the hospitalization of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. This incident occurred after Delhi police intervened on Saturday. The opposition labeled the government’s actions as an attempt to crush democracy, while the NDA accused certain individuals of trying to create chaos and instability.
Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 20 days demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a NEET paper leak, was admitted to the hospital after his health deteriorated on Saturday morning. This action was taken following directives from the Delhi High Court and medical experts’ advice.
Speaking to the media, Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi expressed his sorrow, stating that it is a tragic attempt to suppress democracy. He emphasized that anyone should be able to protest peacefully. Instead of engaging with a person who has been fasting for so long, the government chose to remove him from the site. Amit Thackeray, a leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), described this action as one of the darkest days in Indian political history.
He remarked, “I have never seen democracy dying in front of my eyes like this. A great individual, an academic who has worked for farmers and students, has been on a hunger strike for 20 days. Forget about the resignation of the education minister; not a single person from the central government came to talk to him.”
Congress leader Sachin Pilot stated that the government should have first addressed the issues raised by Wangchuk and initiated dialogue to consider his demands. He noted that the demands were not unreasonable. The entire nation seeks improvements in our education and examination systems, as public trust has diminished. This indicates that the government is not in a mood to listen, but the youth’s frustration will not dissipate.
Tika Ram Juli, the leader of the opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly and a Congress MLA, also accused the government of failing to attempt any dialogue. He pointed out that no minister, BJP official, or government representative visited Sonam Wangchuk.
In recent days, as concerns for Wangchuk’s health grew, people across the country and worldwide rallied in support of him. Feeling the pressure, the government removed him from the protest site, displaying undemocratic and authoritarian behavior. There were also reports of violence against those participating in the protest, which is condemnable.
Trinamool Congress leader Sougata Roy deemed this step unfortunate. He stated that Sonam Wangchuk was fighting bravely. While acknowledging the High Court’s orders, he also expressed support for Wangchuk’s demand for the education minister’s resignation. Political activist Yogendra Yadav condemned the Delhi police’s actions as shameful, cowardly, and illegal.
In response, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma countered the opposition’s claims, asserting that some individuals aim to spread instability and chaos, creating divisions among people to undermine national sentiment. He emphasized that it is the duty of every government to comply with court orders.
JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar remarked that enduring physical suffering is not the right approach, even if the demands are legally justified. He stated that the government also has a responsibility to adopt a sympathetic attitude. He added that Wangchuk’s hospitalization was necessary for his health.
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