CPI urges talks with Sonam Wangchuk, demands resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan

CPI National Secretary K. Ramakrishna at a press conference in Vijayawada on Sunday. CPI state secretariat member Donepudi Shankar is also there. | Photo credit: KVS Giri

Communist Party of India (CPI) National Secretary K. Ramakrishna urged the Center to engage with environmentalist and education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk. He claimed that repeated leaks of examination papers were undermining the country’s education system.

Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada on Sunday (July 19, 2026), Mr. Ramakrishna said that around 82 examination papers had been leaked and canceled in the last 12 years, creating anxiety among students and job seekers. Referring to the cancellation of examinations, including NEET and the recent recruitment test in Maharashtra, he accused the Union government of not ensuring transparency in public examinations.

He criticized the Centre’s handling of Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike and alleged that the government tried to suppress the protest instead of engaging in dialogue. “We urge the Union Government to immediately open talks with Mr. Wangchuk and the student organizations, including AISF and SFI, and address their concerns,” he said.

He held the Union government responsible for repeated irregularities in investigations and demanded the resignation or removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In the Ayodhya Ram Temple row, Mr. Ramakrishna sought a judicial inquiry by a sitting or former judge of the Supreme Court into the alleged misuse of temple funds. Devotees who contributed thousands of crores deserved full transparency and called for action against all those found responsible for the irregularities, he said.

The CPI leader also slammed the Andhra Pradesh government’s alleged moves to privatize public sector institutions, including medical colleges and APSRTC, and urged it to strengthen the public sector. He expressed concern over law and order, mentioned the recent alleged assault of a woman in Guntur district and criticized the sedition case registered against YouTuber Prashna Ravan. CPI state secretariat member Donepudi Shankar was present.

Published – 19 Jul 2026 19:38 IST