Voices from Opposition, film industry rally in Wangchuk’s support
Even as his fast approached a critical stage on Thursday (July 16, 2026), Sonam Wangchuk’s predicament attracted more voices of support, with Jantar Mantar’s protest
Even as his fast approached a critical stage on Thursday (July 16, 2026), Sonam Wangchuk’s predicament attracted more voices of support, with Jantar Mantar’s protest site seeing a massive increase in crowds as former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal came to the site. Dimple Yadav, Samajwadi Party MP from Mainpuri, also visited Mr. Wangchuk and urged the Union government to “show some sensitivity” to the protest and initiate a dialogue with the activist. Yadav was accompanied by other Lok Sabha MPs from the SP, including Dharmendra Yadav (who represents Azamgarh), Mohibbullah Nadvi (Rampur), and Lakshmikant Nishad (Sant Kabir Nagar). The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has planned a march to Parliament on July 20, a demonstration that Mr. Wangchuk has urged supporters to attend. The Congress, which has been conducting its own rallies focusing on the Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam leak and Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) exam irregularities, has maintained its distance but has broken its silence, with party general secretary (Organisation) and Lok Sabha MP K.C. Venugopal urging Mr. Wangchuk to break his fast.
The Congress “has been making this very demand [on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation] for over a month-and-a-half,” Mr. Venugopal said. Wangchuk’s “concerns are our concerns and that of other Opposition parties as well”, he added. The Congress has a ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (students’ echo) rally planned in Dehradun on Friday (July 17, 2026), and the same issues will be raised there, party general secretary Jairam Ramesh said. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) deputy general secretary A. Raja also met Mr. Wangchuk and three students who are striking concurrently nearby on Thursday (July 16, 2026). Raja said on social media platform X that he “expressed the DMK’s support” to the activist. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced concern over Mr. Wangchuk’s condition. “Politics has its place, but there must also be a room for humanity and compassion,” Mr. Abdullah said, rueing that “the government does not seem to pay attention to these matters … We are also asking for justice”. “The confidence that, with effort and talent, anyone can surpass the children of the rich has started to founder,” Mr. Kejriwal said in a speech after meeting Mr. Wangchuk.
Reiterating the demand for Mr. Pradhan’s resignation, he added later on X that the activist should replace Mr. Pradhan as Education Minister. A few more celebrities also added their voice in support of the movement. “From the millions of students whose honest efforts were invalidated with barely a shrug; to the millions more who stood up and continue to stand against injustice… I see you. You raise your voices for the best in us, and it is my honour to stand beside you,” actor Imran Khan said on Instagram. Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray said he would hold a protest in Mumbai on Friday in Mr. Wangchuk’s support. The government “appears unwilling to accept either moral or actual accountability for such serious failures”, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray said. Actor Sonakshi Sinha posted a video on Instagram in support of Mr. Wangchuk. “Who is he doing this for?” she said. “It’s for our children’s future and those who lost their lives … I am no ‘anti-national’.” Fatima Sana Shaikh, who starred in the film Dangal, also lent her support.
The BriefWire