Thousands of protesters in India planned to march on Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, urging the resignation of the education minister due to flawed entrance exams impacting millions of students. This demonstration is one of the largest seen in the capital in recent years and may lead to a standoff with New Delhi police, who have vowed to prevent unauthorized assemblies.
The ongoing protest in the capital city intensified on Sunday, following the forced removal of Sonam Wangchuk, a well-known activist who had been on a hunger strike for over 20 days. Authorities moved him to a hospital for essential medical care, as mandated by the court, despite objections from his family and fellow demonstrators. Mr. Wangchuk continues his hunger strike at the hospital.
On Monday morning, crowds started arriving at Jantar Mantar, a location where protests in New Delhi have typically been confined. Gitanjali J Angmo, Mr. Wangchuk’s wife, stated that he still intends to participate in Monday’s march and has filed a court petition labeling her husband’s detention as an unlawful abduction.
The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has yet to address the protesters’ demands and has cautioned against any illegal actions by demonstrators. Many participants joined the protest after witnessing the government’s harsh treatment of Mr. Wangchuk. The lack of response to this issue has stirred widespread anger across the country, with media reports citing student suicides linked to the stress caused by exam mismanagement.
Leave a Reply