Congress Appeals to Sonam Wangchuk to End Fast; Vows to Continue Fight for Pradhan’s Resignation

Congress Reaches Out to Sonam Wangchuk Amid Growing Concerns Over Health and Accountability

In a significant political development, the Indian National Congress on Thursday officially appealed to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his 19-day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. The appeal, communicated by Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, marks the party's first formal statement regarding the ongoing protest. Acknowledging the "anguish and outrage" felt by Wangchuk and thousands of students, the Congress leadership emphasized that the concerns regarding the collapse of the national examination system are shared by the entire Opposition. Coverage of this outreach and the broader political reaction can be found in reports from The Times of India and ETV Bharat.

The Congress party's move comes as medical bulletins indicate that Wangchuk’s physical condition has entered a precarious stage. Despite the immense physical toll—including a weight loss of over 9 kg—Wangchuk has remained steadfast, repeatedly ruling out ending his fast without a formal government response or a shift in the status quo regarding the Ministry of Education. As noted by The Guardian, the activist has become the "beating heart" of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) movement, which continues to demand structural reforms to India’s education framework.

• Political Solidarity: K.C. Venugopal stated, "His concerns are our concerns and that of other Opposition parties as well. Rest assured, we will continue to confront the Modi government and demand the Education Minister’s resignation."

• Focus on Accountability: The Opposition has intensified its criticism of the Modi-led government, specifically targeting the "lack of accountability" surrounding the NEET paper leaks and the broader systemic failure in competitive examination management.

• Escalating Pressure: While urging Wangchuk to prioritize his health, the Congress affirmed that the battle is far from over, with the party planning to highlight these grievances throughout the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament.

• Broad Opposition Support: In addition to the Congress, leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT) have visited Jantar Mantar, with several calling for the government to initiate a dialogue to avoid a humanitarian crisis.

• The Path Ahead: Despite appeals from political leaders to end the fast, Wangchuk and the CJP have refocused their energy toward the "Chalo Sansad" (March to Parliament) scheduled for July 20, urging supporters to amplify their voices on the first day of the new Parliament session.

As highlighted by The Hindu, the standoff continues to draw intense national attention. While the Congress and other Opposition parties aim to transition the protest into a formal legislative battle, the government remains largely silent, maintaining its distance from the activists at Jantar Mantar. With the Parliament march only days away, the coming weekend is poised to be a defining moment for both the activist’s movement and the political stability of the education portfolio.