Omar calls for Centre’s humanitarian intervention in Wangchuk’s hunger strike

Expressing concern over Sonam Wangchuk’s deteriorating health, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Centre should have reached out to the activist and appealed to him to end his hunger strike, asserting that “there should be room for humanity and compassion even in politics.”

Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Omar said Wangchuk had been fasting for many days and, to the best of his knowledge, was pressing only one demand—that the Union Education Minister should resign or be removed over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, which caused anxiety and hardship to lakhs of students and their families. He maintained that irrespective of political differences, humanitarian considerations should prevail when a person’s health is at risk.

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Omar said he was surprised that the central government had not responded even as Wangchuk’s health had been affected. “The surprising thing is that it has been 18 days for him, perhaps the 19th day is going on. He has lost around 9 kg of weight, and it is affecting his health. But the government is not budging, not appealing to him in any way to stop his hunger strike. Politics has its place, but somewhere there should also be a place for humanity and compassion,” Omar said.

Comparing the Centre’s approach with the Anna Hazare-led protest during the UPA government, Omar said then prime minister Manmohan Singh had sent ministers to speak to the protesters and persuade them to end their fast and return to dialogue. “But no attempt has been made yet to talk to Wangchuk. We don’t know what the government’s attitude will be in the coming days, but we are definitely concerned about Wangchuk’s health”, he added.

He said the protesters’ demand for justice over the NEET issue was valid. “Many politicians have gone there to meet Wangchuk. When they are demanding justice in connection with the NEET exam, we too feel their demand is not wrong; the demand is right. But I do not know why this government doesn’t even pay attention to these things,” Omar said.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been holding a protest for more than 25 days, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite fast since then. Wangchuk has so far not accepted the advice of various political leaders to end the fast.

Omar also criticised those who, he said, were doing politics outside the home of his uncle and former minister, Mustafa Kamal, after visiting the bereaved family to offer condolences.