• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Sonam Wangchuk claims Centre assured Pradhan's resignation consideration.
  2. Demands no punitive action against student protestors.
  3. Will end fast if government provides assurance.

Climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday claimed that the Centre has assured him that it would 'positively consider' the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, along with other demands.

In a letter to Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk thanked them for visiting him in the hospital. He stated that the ministers urged him to end his indefinite hunger strike

Addressing the ministers, Wangchuk said that they assured him the government would 'positively consider' - "adequate compensation for the families of students who committed suicide following the examination paper leak and a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability, including consideration of the resignation of the Hon'ble Education Minister."

Nadda and Singh visited Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Tuesday, hours after the Delhi High Court ordered his transfer from Safdarjung Hospital while hearing a plea of his wife Gitanjali Angmo.

Sonam Wangchuk sets new condition to end strike

Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite fast for the last 25 days, has asked the Central government to provide an assurance to him that no punitive action would be taken against the young protestors for participating in the movement.

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"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 added.

"If such an assurance is given, I shall end my fast with faith that the Government has heard not only my appeal but also the aspirations of lakhs of young Indians. In the absence of such an assurance, I will be forced to continue my fast indefinitely. I also hope that there will be no further use of excessive police force to repress the movement," the activist further added.

"I will also appeal to the peacefully protesting students to halt the movement for now and enter into dialogue with the government," he urged the CJP protestors in his letter. 

Wangchuk reiterates demand in video message

Wangchuk also reiterated the demand in a video message released on his personal X account. He shared the video message with a caption, 'Abhi Zinda Hu' (I am still alive). In his message, he said he would end his hunger strike today if the government agrees not to take any punitive and legal action against the young protestors. He added that if such an assurance is not provided by the government, he would have to continue his indefinite fast.

Notably, the Delhi Police have registered at least four FIRs against unidentified persons under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other laws linked to assaulting public servants, rioting, and damaging public property.

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One of the FIRs is filed for flying drones without permission in the sensitive New Delhi area at the time when the Parliament was in session.

Reports suggest that police are examining CTV footage, video recordings of the agitation and other electronic evidence to identify those involved in vandalism, assault, and other unlawful activities.


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