Cockroach Janta Party supporters during a protest demanding resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 21.
\| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

After days of hunger strike by climate activist and reformer Sonam Wangchuk and his young associates at Jantar Mantar, with no respite from an indifferent government and the unbearable summer heat, things began to roll since the morning of July 18. The Delhi Police whisked away Mr. Wangchuk from the dais under the cover of white sheets and took him to the Safdarjung hospital for medical care. Forcing Mr. Wangchuk to abandon his strike, the government surreptitiously acted through the state to restore order, without any commitment towards political morality. The fundamental responsibility of a government in a democracy is to be answerable to the people.

On July 19, Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, shared her husband’s handwritten note from medical detention that he was willing to call off his fast if the government took accountability for the NEET-UG paper leaks or if leaders of various political parties gave the assurance of taking up the issue in Parliament. He had toned down the original demand seeking the resignation of the Union Education Minister as a concrete sign of the government’s commitment towards rebuilding people’s confidence in the education system. He was prepared to concede the ground of his protest based on the Opposition’s assurance, even if the government was not willing to listen. It was certainly not a good political move on his part, and he seemed to have acted under confusion and despair.

Published - July 22, 2026 12:01 am IST