Will end fast if govt assures no legal action against protesters: Sonam Wangchuk
Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he is willing to end his hunger strike, now in its 25th day, if the government gives assurance that
Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he is willing to end his hunger strike, now in its 25th day, if the government gives assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against students and protesters who participated in Monday's "Chalo Sansad" march over the NEET paper leak and examination-related issues. In a letter addressed to Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk thanked them for visiting him at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram and urging him to call off his fast. He said the ministers had assured him that the government would positively consider two key demands – adequate compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following examination paper leaks, and a meaningful discussion in Parliament on accountability, including consideration of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Read Full Story Describing the July 20 "Chalo Sansad" (march to Parliament) march as peaceful, the 59-year-old alleged that protesters faced "atrocities and disproportionate use of force" by the police despite maintaining discipline.
"I sincerely hope that this faith in democratic institutions is not further undermined by any legal cases, harassment or vindictive action against those who participated," he wrote. Wangchuk said around 65 MPs from different political parties had either met him or written to him, urging him to end the fast. However, he said he could not abandon the movement without securing safeguards for the students who had joined it. "I want to live. I want to return to my students, to education, and to the work that has defined my life. But I cannot do so at the cost of the very young people for whom this movement began," he said. Wangchuk urged the government to provide an unequivocal assurance that no participant in the protest would face legal action or retaliation. "Their only 'offence' has been to raise their voice for a fair and accountable education system," he said.
The 59-year-old activist said he would immediately end his fast if such an assurance was given, calling it a sign that the government had listened not only to him but also to the aspirations of lakhs of youngsters. However, he warned that in the absence of such a commitment, he would be "forced to continue" the hunger strike indefinitely. He also expressed hope that there would be no further use of excessive police force against protesters. "The future of our democracy depends not on how it treats those who agree with it, but on how it treats its young citizens when they dare to speak with courage, hope and conviction," he said. The protest, launched by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke at Jantar Mantar on June 6, has gained momentum in recent days after Wangchuk joined the demonstration and began his fast on June 28.
The BriefWire