A candlelight vigil held in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike

Students and activists gather for a protest demonstration organized by Disha Student Organization on Necklace Road in Hyderabad on Saturday. | Photo credit: RAMAKRISHNA G

A candlelight vigil was held at the BR Ambedkar statue on Secretariat Road in solidarity with educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was forcibly hospitalized following his indefinite hunger strike demanding accountability from the Union Education Ministry.

The rally led by student and youth organizations criticized the central government for failing to conduct national-level entrance exams, including NEET and CUET. They blamed the government for not addressing examination irregularities, student concerns and demanded transparency in the education system.

SFI state president S. Rajinikanth, DYFI leader Anaganti Venkatesh and AIDWA leader R. Aruna Jyoti addressed the gathering and said the government’s response to Wangchuk’s 21-day hunger strike reflected an unwillingness to engage in democratic protests and called for immediate dialogue with the movement’s leaders.

The organizations demanded the resignation or removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for failures in the examination system. They also sought comprehensive reforms that would ensure transparency, accountability and decentralization in the conduct of entrance examinations.

Published – 18 Jul 2026 23:26 IST