Shashi Tharoor writes open letter to Jantar Mantar protesters, Sonam Wangchuk
Shashi Tharoor urged Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite fast, saying the protest had already stirred the nation's conscience and that students' concerns should now be raised in Parliament. He also appealed to the Centre to open a dialogue with protesters, even as Wangchuk refused to call off his fast.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday made an emotional appeal to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite fast, saying the protest had already "awakened the conscience of the nation" and that the fight for students' issues should now move to Parliament.
In an open letter addressed to the Jantar Mantar protesters, Tharoor's strongest appeal was directed at Wangchuk.
"To Shri Sonam Wangchuk-ji, my heartfelt appeal: please end your fast. You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do. India needs your voice for the long road ahead," Tharoor wrote.
With Parliament set to reconvene on Monday, Tharoor said lawmakers would have the opportunity to raise the concerns of students in "the highest forum of our democracy."
"That's where the problem should be addressed, not by fasting unto death. Please heed my plea," he wrote.
Wangchuk continued his hunger strike despite suffering muscle loss and being in "immense pain", even as appeals grew on Tuesday for him to call off his 18-day fast and for the government to begin a dialogue.
In a separate protest, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demonstrating at Jantar Mantar for the past 25 days over the NEET issue, unveiled a five-point examination reform charter and said support for its agitation was growing across political parties.
As Wangchuk's health worsened, several leaders, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, asked the activist to end his fast. Veteran actor Zeenat Aman also appealed to the government to open a dialogue with Wangchuk, saying India should not "sit back and watch one of its greatest minds be sacrificed."
Despite these appeals, Wangchuk refused to end the fast. On Wednesday, a petition was filed before the Delhi High Court seeking that he be force-fed. The plea claimed that the activist had lost 8.5 kg and could die in two days.
At Jantar Mantar, the CJP said its protest over the NEET issue had entered its 25th day. The party unveiled a five-point charter on examination reforms and claimed that backing for its agitation was increasing across political parties.
Wangchuk remained on fast amid concerns over his deteriorating health and calls for talks, while the CJP continued its protest at Jantar Mantar and pressed its demand for examination reform through its five-point charter.
Tharoor further urged the Centre to engage with the protesters, saying the government should initiate dialogue rather than ignore the concerns being raised.
"I respectfully urge you to reach out and engage in the dialogue our democracy owes its young citizens. That is not weakness; that is statesmanship," he said.
In the letter, Tharoor also expressed solidarity with the students protesting at Jantar Mantar and across the country, saying their anger reflected the anguish of a generation that had "done everything right and was still betrayed."
Recalling his own middle-class upbringing, he said scholarships, fair examinations and merit had shaped his life, arguing that honest, merit-based exams remained the only path to opportunity for millions of young Indians. He warned that when papers are leaked, exams cancelled and trust eroded, it is ordinary families -- not the privileged -- who bear the cost.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday made an emotional appeal to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite fast, saying the protest had already "awakened the conscience of the nation" and that the fight for students' issues should now move to Parliament.
In an open letter addressed to the Jantar Mantar protesters, Tharoor's strongest appeal was directed at Wangchuk.
"To Shri Sonam Wangchuk-ji, my heartfelt appeal: please end your fast. You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do. India needs your voice for the long road ahead," Tharoor wrote.
With Parliament set to reconvene on Monday, Tharoor said lawmakers would have the opportunity to raise the concerns of students in "the highest forum of our democracy."
"That's where the problem should be addressed, not by fasting unto death. Please heed my plea," he wrote.
Wangchuk continued his hunger strike despite suffering muscle loss and being in "immense pain", even as appeals grew on Tuesday for him to call off his 18-day fast and for the government to begin a dialogue.
In a separate protest, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demonstrating at Jantar Mantar for the past 25 days over the NEET issue, unveiled a five-point examination reform charter and said support for its agitation was growing across political parties.
As Wangchuk's health worsened, several leaders, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, asked the activist to end his fast. Veteran actor Zeenat Aman also appealed to the government to open a dialogue with Wangchuk, saying India should not "sit back and watch one of its greatest minds be sacrificed."
Despite these appeals, Wangchuk refused to end the fast. On Wednesday, a petition was filed before the Delhi High Court seeking that he be force-fed. The plea claimed that the activist had lost 8.5 kg and could die in two days.
At Jantar Mantar, the CJP said its protest over the NEET issue had entered its 25th day. The party unveiled a five-point charter on examination reforms and claimed that backing for its agitation was increasing across political parties.
Wangchuk remained on fast amid concerns over his deteriorating health and calls for talks, while the CJP continued its protest at Jantar Mantar and pressed its demand for examination reform through its five-point charter.
Tharoor further urged the Centre to engage with the protesters, saying the government should initiate dialogue rather than ignore the concerns being raised.
"I respectfully urge you to reach out and engage in the dialogue our democracy owes its young citizens. That is not weakness; that is statesmanship," he said.
In the letter, Tharoor also expressed solidarity with the students protesting at Jantar Mantar and across the country, saying their anger reflected the anguish of a generation that had "done everything right and was still betrayed."
Recalling his own middle-class upbringing, he said scholarships, fair examinations and merit had shaped his life, arguing that honest, merit-based exams remained the only path to opportunity for millions of young Indians. He warned that when papers are leaked, exams cancelled and trust eroded, it is ordinary families -- not the privileged -- who bear the cost.
