‘India needs you, not in suffering, but in service’: Opp MPs urge Wangchuk to end fast
New Delhi, July 22: Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he would end his indefinite hunger strike if the Centre gives an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the protest against alleged examination irregularities.
He also said that Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh had already assured him that the government would positively consider his two other key demands.
In a letter addressed to the two ministers, Wangchuk said that Nadda and Singh, who visited him at the Medanta Hospital on Tuesday night, assured him that the government would positively consider providing adequate compensation to the families of students who died by suicide following the NEET paper ‘leak’, and holding a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability for exam ‘irregularities’, including considering the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Therefore, I respectfully request an unequivocal assurance from the government that none of the young protesters will face any punitive or retaliatory legal action for participating in this movement. Their only ‘offence’ has been to raise their voice for a fair and accountable education system,” Wangchuk wrote.
Sharing the letter on X, Wangchuk said, “An appeal to the government regarding breaking my fast… Once the assurance from the government comes, I will also appeal to the peacefully protesting students to halt the movement for now and enter into dialogue with the government.” Referring to the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, Wangchuk said it “remained very peaceful despite the atrocities and disproportionate use of force by the police”.
Earlier on Wednesday, a delegation of opposition MPs, including Congress’ Vivek Tankha, CPI(M)’s John Brittas and TMC’s Sagarika Ghose, met Wangchuk at the Medanta Hospital and appealed to him to end his fast.
In a letter signed by the MPs from several opposition parties, they assured him that the issues of examination reforms and accountability in the education sector would be taken up in Parliament.
“The nation, especially its youth, needs your wisdom and guidance far more than your sacrifice… Just as the Union Territory of Ladakh needs Sonam Wangchuk, India needs you too, not in suffering, but in service,” the MPs told him, while also assuring that they would press the government against any coercive action against the peaceful protesters.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining the CJP-led agitation demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Pradhan.
He is currently admitted to the Medanta Hospital after being shifted from the Safdarjung Hospital following a Delhi High Court order.
‘Don’t waste our time’: SC declines plea on police action against protesters
The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined a request for urgent listing of a plea challenging the police action against students during the CJP-led protest march in Delhi, with Chief Justice of India Surya Kant asking the petitioner not to waste time.
The matter was mentioned before a bench comprising the CJI and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana.
He said that students had allegedly been subjected to police brutality during the protest and said the petition contained three prayers.
The CJI declined the request and made it clear that the bench was not inclined to examine video footage at the mentioning stage.
DMRC reopens metro stations
Seventeen metro stations that were temporarily shut during the day due to security reasons were reopened, the DMRC said Wednesday evening.
The closures came amid the ongoing CJP protest at Jantar Mantar. “All stations of the Delhi Metro network are now open for passenger services,” the DMRC said in a post on X.
The DMRC had said that Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhamba Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh and Shivaji Stadium stations would be closed.
In the afternoon, Jhandewalan station was also closed, taking the total number of affected stations to 17.
The metro station closures began first on Monday when thousands converged in central Delhi in response to the CJP’s call to march to Parliament over alleged examination irregularities. (PTI)
