The country is burning with protests. Jantar Mantar in the country’s capital Delhi is now on fire due to student protests. Lakhs of students and people from all walks of life organized the protest demanding the resignation of Justice and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Sonam Wangchuk, the country’s renowned scientist and environmentalist, led a hunger strike in support of the newly formed Telapoka Janata Party. Police took Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar and detained her in hospital to quell the agitation. Wangchuck has already called off his hunger strike after 26 days. But the protests at Jantar Mantar took a more massive and violent form.
Having to stay at home due to physical illness in such a terribly unstable situation. But the mind does not agree. Because I have spent most of my life protesting injustice. Those who have been persecuted by the government for their involvement in the struggle for human rights know how much I have been persecuted. I don’t want to mention those things again. Arrest, imprisonment, encounter and torture!
With this message, I support the ongoing movement for justice by students at Jantar Mantar, Delhi. We have already spoken a lot in support of the movement on behalf of the Assam Citizens’ Conference. I also congratulate all individuals, organizations and groups who have expressed solidarity with this movement. Hope this movement will succeed in getting justice.
However, I would like to mention a few things here. Since the BJP came to power in 2014, an undeclared race to auction off the country’s assets has begun. The only responsibility of the Modi government is to hand over all the country’s wealth to a handful of billionaires including Adani and Ambani. Corruption has engulfed the country. There are many reasons why people take to the streets in search of liberation. The terrible thing is that this government also makes laws against the farmers who are the backbone of the country’s economy.
Farmers have staged unprecedented protests demanding repeal of three controversial agricultural laws enacted by the Modi government. I went and sat with the farmers in the Singu border protest. I sit at the protest site along with farmer leader Rakesh Tikait to show my support to the farmers’ movement. Tikai expressed happiness and praised me for being present at the scene of the movement and giving moral support. Seeing the pattern of agitation and the determination of the farmers, I felt that the Modi government should bow down to these agitating farmers. That’s what happened in the end. The government was forced to repeal all three laws.
Famed scientist and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk’s reputation cannot be overstated. Wangchuck’s inventions and inventions have been widely discussed abroad rather than at home. The fascist government of the country imprisoned this scientist on false charges of treason. How violent and brutal Modi government can be!
Sonam had a strong desire to meet Wangchuk. In September 2024, Wangchuk walked 1,000 kilometers from Leh in Ladakh to New Delhi. As an MP at that time, I tried to meet the scientist. But many people like me are disappointed with the obstruction of Amit Shah’s Home Ministry.
I went to Ladakh in June-July I reached Wangchuck on July 1, 2025 along with Samajwadi Party MP Javed Ali Khan and RJD MP Abhay Kumar Sinha. At first sight, we were impressed by Wangchuk’s demeanor. In a short time I realized the vast scope of his work. Like a good teacher, Wangchuk explained to us the various aspects of his inventions and discoveries. We just listened mesmerized. Meanwhile, Wangchuk showed us the university he built. Wangchuk also showed how he has revolutionized Ladakh with solar energy. The only thing I realized after meeting Wangchuk is that Sonam Wangchuk actually has a much bigger personality than what I had heard. Wangchuk is a much better scientist and environmentalist than we think. Note that I have already written about this academic in ‘Amar Assam’ and it is included in the recently published book ‘Jubin Katha – Manuh Katha’ Wangchuk and his wife Gitanjali treated us well.
Wangchuk went on hunger strike to demand the rights of the future students of the country and is now lying in the hospital with a sick body. But the fascist Modi government is conspiring to destroy the organized movement demanding justice. Many protesters in the country are protesting against the government’s decision to ban the use of police and paramilitary forces. It is alleged that a group of goons of the government pounced on the protesters with sticks. It is very reprehensible.
Despite such brutality of the government, we are hopeful that epic protests involving heroes like Sonam Wangchuk will bring down the fascist Modi government.
Ajit Kumar Bhuiyan