Omar Abdullah criticised the Centre’s response to Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike over the NEET-UG row. His remarks came as Wangchuk’s health weakened, a court plea sought medical intervention and supporters pressed for accountability.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday criticised the BJP-led central government over its response to activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike, drawing parallels with the Congress-led UPA government’s handling of Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement.
In a post on X, Abdullah said the Centre had shown “utter insensitivity” despite Wangchuk’s deteriorating health, contrasting it with the response of the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led government, whose ministers engaged with Hazare during his fast.
“All he is demanding is justice for the NEET scam victims and the removal of the education minister. Remember how the Manmohan Singh government and its ministers rushed to meet Anna Hazare and asked him to end his fast? Here, the BJP government doesn’t even care to issue a statement. Politics is one thing, but isn’t compassion and humanity also important?” Abdullah wrote.
SONAM WANGCHUK ON INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE
His remarks came as Wangchuk entered the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where he is demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.
In a video message posted late Wednesday, Wangchuk acknowledged the toll the fast had taken on his health but said he remained determined to continue the protest.
“I’m not in good shape but not so bad either,” the activist said.
According to Dr Satish Lamba, the senior physician monitoring Wangchuk’s condition, the activist has lost more than nine kilograms since beginning his fast nearly three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, a petition has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking urgent medical intervention for Wangchuk. The plea requests the court to direct authorities to ensure immediate medical care and consider force-feeding him in view of his prolonged fast.
Wangchuk’s protest is being organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has demanded accountability for the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and the resignation of the Union education minister.
