Don't test Wangchuk's limits, hold talks: Anna Hazare's message to govt

In a video message, Anna Hazare urged the government to hold talks with Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on indefinite hunger strike.

In a video message, Anna Hazare said the government can say yes or no to Wangchuk’s demands, but they must hold talks. (Screengrab)

Social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday urged the Centre to engage in dialogue with educationist Sonam Wangchuk, saying the government should not avoid discussions even if it disagrees with his demands.

“The government should not test his limits. Say yes or no (to his demands) but what is wrong in holding discussions,” Hazare said in a video message.

Hazare’s remarks came hours after Delhi Police shifted Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital after his health deteriorated on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Wangchuk has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak scandal.

Police said Wangchuk was moved to the hospital on expert medical advice and in compliance with directions of the Delhi High Court.

Hazare’s intervention is significant as his own anti-corruption hunger strike at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan in 2011 had triggered a nationwide movement that eventually led to the enactment of the Lokpal Act.

JANTAR MANTAR PROTESTS TO CONTINUE
Despite Sonam Wangchuk’s removal from the protest site, the agitation continued. Protest organisers said the planned July 20 march to Parliament would go ahead as scheduled. Three members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) — Neha, Manish and Aameen — continued their indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar, while Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke also began an indefinite hunger strike after the police action.

The police action drew sharp criticism from across opposition parties, which accused the government of suppressing peaceful protests instead of addressing concerns over irregularities in the NEET examination.

PARTIES SLAM WANGCHUK’S REMOVAL
The police action drew sharp criticism from Left parties, the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party and several other Opposition leaders, who accused the Centre of suppressing peaceful protests instead of addressing concerns over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said it was wrong to act against a person on a non-violent hunger strike and accused the government of relying on “Asatya and Hinsa” (falsehood and violence). He said paper leaks, the rising cost of education and student suicides were “critical issues for India’s future” and asserted that “no amount of force can deter India’s students, and those of us who love and believe in them, from raising these issues”.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who met Wangchuk on Thursday, appealed to people to join the protest at Jantar Mantar. NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, DMK MP Kanimozhi, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray also criticised the police action and urged the government to engage in dialogue with the protesters.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation alleged that the government had chosen “intimidation, force and the suppression of democratic dissent” because it had “no answers to the growing anger against corruption, paper leaks and the systematic destruction of the public education system”.

Source: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/anna-hazare-urges-centre-to-hold-talks-with-sonam-wangchuk-over-neet-protest-2951028-2026-07-18