Even while undergoing treatment at the hospital, educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk continues his hunger strike. Meanwhile, protesters from the youth movement Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) refuse to vacate Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, standing firm in their demand for the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. By Wednesday morning, thousands more flooded Jantar Mantar as the movement—sparked by NEET paper leaks and widespread corruption in the education sector—gained international momentum, with solidarity demonstrations held in New York, London, and Dublin.
The aggressive police action and baton-charge on marching students have simultaneously sent political temperatures soaring across India, with the opposition alliance taking to the streets in full force.
According to news agency PTI, members of the advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights held demonstrations at Union Square in New York and in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in San Jose to express solidarity with Wangchuk. Similar gatherings took place in London and Dublin, where protesters holding banners and placards demanded the immediate stepping down of India’s Education Minister.
In response to the tear gas and police baton-charge on CJP’s ‘March to Parliament’ on Monday, top opposition figures—including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, alongside Uddhav Thackeray—staged a sit-in demonstration outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday.
After being detained by the police, Rahul Gandhi released a video message from custody, putting forward 5 key demands to the Central Government:
Resignations: Immediate resignations of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah.
Action Against Police: Departmental action against police personnel involved in the attack on protesting students on Monday.
Withdrawal of FIRs: Unconditional revocation of all cases and FIRs filed against student protestors.
Public Apology: A formal public apology from the Modi government, accepting responsibility for police high-handedness.
Parliamentary Debate: A statement by the Home Minister in Parliament followed by a comprehensive discussion on the National Education Policy (NEP) during the Monsoon Session.
Mahua Moitra’s ‘Out of Syllabus’ Jibe & TMC’s Notice
Consistently backing the protestors, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP from Krishnanagar, Mahua Moitra, posted a video message on Wednesday morning slamming the administration:
“No matter how much oppression the government resorts to, the protestors are not leaving Jantar Mantar. This massive student movement is completely ‘out of syllabus’ for the Modi-Shah duo. They only know how to handle those who get scared.”
Meanwhile, TMC Chief Whip in the Rajya Sabha, Nadimul Haque, submitted a formal notice seeking an urgent discussion in the House regarding the police assault on the student demonstrators.
