WASHINGTON: Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike over alleged irregularities in the examination system drew international attention on Friday as US-based advocacy groups held a demonstration near the Indian Embassy in Washington, expressing solidarity with the climate activist and urging the Indian government to engage with the protesters.
Members of Hindus for Human Rights and The Azadi Project assembled at the Mahatma Gandhi statue near the Indian Embassy carrying placards in support of Wangchuk, who has been observing an indefinite fast at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since June 28.
The demonstrators also raised slogans against the Union Government and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged examination irregularities, including those linked to the NEET controversy.
Earlier this week, Hindus for Human Rights issued an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to initiate dialogue with Wangchuk and other protesters and address the issues raised during the agitation.
“The government must meet with the protesters, provide a substantive response to the examination and governance failures they have identified, and establish a credible, time-bound process for accountability,” the organisation said in the letter.
Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights, said the government should respond to the concerns raised by the protesters before the situation worsens.
“The government must meet the protesters now, answer the failures that brought them here, and act before indifference takes a life,” she said.
At the same time, the advocacy group appealed to Wangchuk and the students participating in the hunger strike to prioritise their health, saying their concerns had already resonated with people across India and abroad.
“Their concerns have been heard by people across India and around the world. They should not be required to sacrifice their health to demonstrate the seriousness of their demands,” the organisation said.
Wangchuk launched his indefinite hunger strike on June 28 at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister over alleged irregularities in examinations and issues related to the education system.
