What Sparked the Protests at Jantar Mantar? Congress Backs Activist Sonam Wangchuk
Congress Stands with Protesters at Jantar Mantar
New Delhi: On Friday, the Congress Party expressed its support for activist Sonam Wangchuk and members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who are protesting at Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in examinations, reminding the government of its responsibilities under 'Raj Dharma'.
Pawan Khera, a Congress leader, visited the protest site to meet Wangchuk and the other demonstrators, emphasizing that it is the government's obligation to listen to the voices of its citizens during protests.
Khera criticized the government's dismissive attitude towards Wangchuk and the protesting youth, describing it as an arrogance that is unbecoming of a democratic society.
"Today, I met Shri Sonam Wangchuk and the protesters at Jantar Mantar on behalf of the Congress Party and urged them to conclude their fast due to health concerns. A movement cannot thrive if its participants are lost. We must continue to fight another day," Khera shared on X.
He reiterated that peaceful protest is a constitutional right in a democracy.
"When citizens resort to fasting to be heard, it is the government's duty to listen, not to ignore. That is Raj Dharma," Khera stated, recalling how Indira Gandhi in 1984 and Dr. Manmohan Singh in 2011 engaged with citizens, even amidst disagreements.
In contrast, Khera noted that the current government has opted for indifference.
The government has failed to address calls for educational reforms, whether from Rahul Gandhi, the NSUI (National Students' Union of India), IYC (Indian Youth Congress), or the protesters at Jantar Mantar, he pointed out.
"This indifference is not just arrogant; it is heartless and unworthy of a democracy," Khera added.
The Cockroach Janata Party has been protesting for over 28 days, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities.
Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and has been on an indefinite hunger strike since then.
The Congress Party has previously urged Wangchuk to end his fast, expressing concern for his health.
Khera's visit followed a meeting the day before with former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav, who also met Wangchuk and the protesters at Jantar Mantar.
Yadav called on the Centre to engage in dialogue with Wangchuk and address the CJP's demands, criticizing the BJP-led government for its inaction despite the ongoing hunger strike and related student fatalities.
On Thursday, Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal stated that the party has been calling for Pradhan's resignation for over a month.
"We empathize with the distress and frustration that Shri Wangchuk feels, particularly regarding the lack of accountability from the Modi government concerning the examination system's failures.
"Given his health situation, we urge Shri Wangchuk to conclude his fast. His concerns align with ours and those of other opposition parties. We assure you that we will persist in our challenge against the Modi government and demand the Education Minister's resignation," Venugopal stated on X.