Sonam Wangchuk on the government’s three assurances: What will happen to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation? The activist explains in the video | Today’s news
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk called off the hunger strike on Thursday after “long negotiations” with the government “on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country”. In the video, Wangchuk explained the conditions on which the government gave him assurances.
Sonam Wangchuk and Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) submitted four demands to the government to end the protest over irregularities in the NEET examination. They are:
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The main demands included the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation of ₹1 million to the families of students who committed suicide due to the NEET paper leak, withdrawal of FIRs against peaceful protesters and prosecution of police officials involved in the atrocities.
Wangchuk ended his hunger strike following written assurances from the government regarding accountability in the investigation system, compensation for victims’ families and a commitment to debate these issues in parliament.
The government agreed to hold talks with the Cockroach Janata Party at a neutral venue, set up fast track courts for paper leak cases and promised stricter action against paper leaks.
While Pradhan’s resignation was a key demand, Sonam Wangchuk suggested that achieving it was less important than ensuring protection and accountability for students affected by the NEET paper leak.
Yes, the protesters were afraid that FIRs would be filed against them, but the government assured that no legal action would be taken against the students involved in the peaceful protests.
1. Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation
2. ₹1 million compensation to the families of all students who died of suicide due to NEET paper leak
3. All FIRs filed unnecessarily against peaceful protesters must be withdrawn; no FIRs were registered or legal action taken against those who participated in the July 20 march.
4. All police officers involved in the commission of atrocities must be prosecuted; and there is liability for paper leakage cases
How has the government responded to these demands so far?
Sonam Wangchuk said on Friday that he ended his 26-day fast after receiving written assurances from the government and members of parliament from all political parties that “the question of accountability in the exam system in which he failed will be taken up on the floor of the Indian Parliament”.
In a video, Wangchuk explained the conditions the Center agreed to before ending the fast. He said he had received written assurances of these requirements:
1. No legal action, FIR against students and youth protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar or those who participated in ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on 20th July,
2. The children who died in this paper leak accident, more than 20 in number, will be compensated accordingly; compensation will be provided to their families.
3. There will be a thorough discussion and debate in Parliament about this issue and about holding the Government accountable for education and testing to ensure that this does not happen again and that it is held fully accountable for what happened.
What will happen to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation?
Sonam Wangchuk also addressed the issue regarding the CJP’s demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET paper leak. “Now you must be asking what happened to Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation,” he said.
Wangchuk said the leaders “were not able to give me any assurances as to when it would happen…” He added that the welfare of the students was more important to him.
For that, he said, he had two options: “Either I will go on hunger strike for the next few weeks and maybe that would lead to my end. Then 2-3 weeks ago thousands of you told me that my life is important and to continue the fight I have to stay alive…”
“But I also don’t believe we haven’t achieved that,” he said.
Wangchuk said, “My mind works differently. If he (Dharmendra Pradhan) doesn’t do it, doesn’t step down, it won’t hurt the children or us; it will hurt the government itself.”
“…He should have resigned. Resignation would have stopped all the damage a long time ago. That was not the most important thing to me; it would have resolved itself. More important than any other way to me was that our children should not be involved in such cases…,” Wangchuk said.
“I have seen years of FIR destroying the future of children in Ladakh. Nothing like this will happen. We have achieved this from them; I am happy about it and the families of the deceased children will be given due compensation. There will be a full debate on this issue and responsibility in the highest temple of Indian democracy which is our Parliament. I also thank you all very much for supporting this movement,” Wangchuk said.
Wangchuk was taken to hospital after police took him away from the Jantar Mantar protest site on July 18. Despite hospitalization, Wangchuk continued his hunger strike. He finally ended his fast on Thursday, July 23 in the presence of Union Ministers JP Naddy and Dr. Jitendra Singha after receiving written assurance from Govt.
He joined the CJP-led agitation at Jantar Mantar on 28 June and started a strike in support of students demanding accountability for alleged irregularities in entrance examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
