Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over the police action against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and alleged the Modi government is trying to suppress a peaceful democratic movement by detaining him ahead of a proposed march to Parliament.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh told a press conference in New Delhi that the government was “afraid” of Wangchuk’s public support and had resorted to force to stop his planned Parliament march on 20th July.
Singh said Delhi Police reached Jantar Mantar early on Saturday morning, where Wangchuk was on hunger strike for over a week and took him away from the protest site before taking him to Safdarjung Hospital. The police say the move was made on the recommendation of the Delhi High Court and medical professionals because Wangchuk's health was deteriorating.
But AAP claimed that the action was politically motivated.
'Government Is Scared of Wangchuk's Movement'
Sanjay Singh alleged that the Centre feared the growing public support for Wangchuk’s campaign against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and paper leaks.
"We know that the Modi government is afraid of Sonam Wangchuk’s call for a march to Parliament. Police were sent to Jantar Mantar early in the morning, students were lathi-charged, and Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly taken to a hospital in an attempt to crush the movement," Singh said.
He claimed that the July 20 march was expected to see students, citizens, Members of Parliament and MLAs from different political parties participate in the march.
According to Singh, the government saw that Wangchuk’s campaign had evolved to a nationwide movement for accountability over the leak of examination papers.
"The Prime Minister knows Sonam Wangchuk's voice is becoming a powerful voice across the country, and that is why efforts are being made to silence him," he alleged.
Questions Raised Over 21-Day Hunger Strike
The AAP leader also questioned the Centre's response to Wangchuk's prolonged hunger strike, saying the activist had completed 21 days without any direct engagement from the government.
"Sonam Wangchuk, 59, has been on an indefinite fast for 21 days, raising the concerns of millions of young people affected by repeated paper leaks. But the Prime Minister never spoke to him and even appealed to him to end his fast. No representative of the government came forward to understand why he was risking his life," Singh said.
He further claimed that police had surrounded the Jantar Mantar protest site before removing Wangchuk and that activist Abhijeet Dipke was also detained during the operation.
Allegations Over Police Action
Without presenting evidence, Singh also claimed that the recent appointment of a new Delhi Police Commissioner was linked to the action taken against Wangchuk and the protesters.
The AAP MP referred to the police operation as an example of the “arrogance of power,” and said the government used force to address public protests instead of dialogue.
"This government cannot keep responding to every protest with lathi-charge, tear gas and force. Whether it is farmers, youth or women, every movement is being crushed. The very youth being beaten today will one day remove this government from power," Singh said.
Young people and students, he said, should continue supporting Wangchuk and Wangchuk’s campaign and keep the movement peaceful and democratic.
Police Cited High Court Directions
Meanwhile, Delhi Police said Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in line with Delhi High Court orders and on expert medical advice due to his health concern after nearly three weeks of fasting.
Police said repeated announcements were made requesting protesters to cooperate and claimed that the operation was carried out with maximum restraint despite resistance at the protest site.
Wangchuk's hunger strike has further fueled the political debate as opposition parties have challenged the government's actions in the protest while authorities maintain they were focusing on the activist getting medical attention as soon as possible.
