Hyderabad: Civil society organisations in Hyderabad will hold a candlelight gathering for activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday, July 16, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Necklace Road.
The protestors have put forth demands that include protection of student rights, scrapping the National Testing Agency (NTA) and sacking Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The vigil will be held at the 130 feet Ambedkar Statue.
Sonam Wangchuk’s fast
The activist from Ladakh has been fasting for the past 19 days in solidarity with the students who have suffered due to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG paper leak earlier this year. Wangchuk has joined the protest initiated by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
On Thursday, he ruled out ending his indefinite hunger strike despite appeals from political leaders and supporters, saying breaking the fast without any response from the government would send the wrong message. “If I eat, what message will go? The message to the government will be that there is no need for accountability. Protesters sit and leave…” said Wangchuk and asked what would change if he ended the fast.
Instead, he urged people to strengthen the CJP’s proposed Parliament march on July 20, saying students in schools and colleges should participate “in a real lesson in political science and democracy.”
Seeking to allay concerns over his health, Wangchuk said medical examinations conducted so far had not indicated any immediate danger.
(With inputs from PTI)
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