Students' protest: Could breakthrough with Sonam Wangchuk help govt tackle crisis?
The Indian government is attempting to manage student protests by engaging with activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike. While the government hopes this breakthrough will isolate more radical protest elements, student groups continue to demand the resignation of the education minister.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the government's strategy of using selective negotiation to neutralize widespread student unrest and manage political optics regarding education reform.
NEW DELHI: Government is keeping its fingers crossed after its successful attempt to persuade activist Sonam Wangchuk - whose wide recognition helped expand the reach of Cockroach Janta Party's protest into uncomfortable territory for BJP - to break his hunger strike.CJP's assertion, though, to continue and even escalate the agitation if its demand for education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is not met has muddied the waters, but govt feels the successful engagement with the Ladakh activist coupled with measures taken by it will help counter the allegation that govt has not been sensitive to students' concerns and resonate with those not affiliated with AAP, the Left and other opponents and their student outfits.The breakthrough with Wangchuk became possible because of deft footwork, including behind-the-scenes moves by home minister Amit Shah, that saw ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh overcoming the activist and bringing in local netas of Ladakh.
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