The condition of social activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk from Ladakh, who went on a hunger strike to protest the NIT question paper leak controversy at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, is getting worse. Krishna Nagar Trinamool MP Mahua Maitra expressed deep concern over the situation and asked him to call off his hunger strike. “The government is not concerned about your lives and the lives of crores of youth,” the MP wrote in a post on social media on Tuesday. But your survival is very important to us. So please call off the fast and continue this fight. Addressing Sonam as sir, Mahua Maitra said her hunger strike has already succeeded in mobilizing the youth of the country to demand justice.
Sonam is protesting the central government’s silence and indifference over the leak of the medical entrance exam question paper. His hunger strike entered the 17th day on Tuesday. He has already lost about 8.2 kg of body weight as a result of his continuous fasting. On Monday, the Kakroch Janata Party protestors, Sonam’s blood glucose level has come down to 67 mg per deciliter and her blood pressure has come down to 107/7 Despite her poor health, the social worker stands by her claim.
Several prominent intellectuals and artists of the country expressed their support for Sonam’s struggle by appearing on the hunger stage at Jantar Mantar on Monday. Prominent writer Arundhati Roy was among them, Actor Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah and eminent economist Jayati Ghosh. They expressed concern over Sonam’s seriously deteriorating health and requested her to call off her fast.
Cockroaches started a movement at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 20 demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NIT controversy. Sonam Wangchuk has been with the movement since its inception. Later in June, the central government announced that no positive action would be taken in this regard, He will then go on a hunger strike. Not getting any response from the Centre, this social activist from Ladakh started a hunger strike on June 28.
From the protesters’ platform, Telapoka Party founder Abhijit Deepak wrote, “Please Govt, This should not be taken as a pride fight. People’s lives are in danger here. Admitting mistakes is not weakness, Rather, correction is a sign of goodwill.
Sonam’s message to her followers, however, is very simple and down to earth. He said, he is not Gandhi, Nor is the hero. He is a very ordinary man. So be your hero to everyone‘He urged the people to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens. Protesters have also called for a parliamentary campaign in July