Sonam Wangchuk on Day 16 of Hunger Strike: PM Should Listen, Not Be Rigid

Activist Sonam Wangchuk entered the 16th day of his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Monday, as part of a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protest demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the leak of NEET-UG question papers.

Speaking to the Indian Express in Hindi, Wangchuk urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to heed the 'voice of the people' and called on leaders from all political parties to join the protest. He stressed that while the resignation of an individual is not the sole solution, it would establish accountability and pave the way for comprehensive exam system reforms.

'This is not just an indictment of the education system, but of the entire Indian society. What sort of doctor would you get if the exam paper is leaked? Such doctors would attend to your children; engineers who passed by cheating would construct your buildings, which could collapse, causing loss of life,' Wangchuk said.

He lamented that honesty holds no value in the country today, with everything from exam papers to votes being 'up for sale.' He questioned how the nation could progress under such circumstances.

Wangchuk confirmed that the Narendra Modi government has not contacted him, directly or indirectly, during the protest. He expressed hope that the government would engage in dialogue within a day or two, adding that widespread public support could compel the government to act.

When asked about dialogue channels, Wangchuk said that resignation or accountability is merely a starting point. He suggested that the issue should be debated in Parliament during the Monsoon Session and that the government should involve young people and educationists in formulating broader reforms.

Addressing concerns about low turnout, Wangchuk stated that 5,000 to 7,000 people visit the protest site throughout the day. He urged citizens to observe a one-day fast in solidarity to convey the gravity of the situation to the government.

Regarding the dominance of Left-affiliated student organisations such as the AISF, SFI, and AISA at the protest, Wangchuk clarified that the CJP has extended invitations to all parties, including the BJP, and that logistical decisions are left to the organisers.

Wangchuk expressed hope that opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav would join, warning that their absence would reflect 'narrow-mindedness' that the public would eventually reject.