The salt of democracy
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was removed by police from his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, where he was protesting against government inaction regarding NEET-UG paper leaks. Despite his willingness to compromise for political accountability, the government's response has been criticized for lacking transparency and democratic engagement.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between civil society activism and government accountability in India, particularly concerning the integrity of national examination systems.
After days of hunger strike by climate activist and reformer Sonam Wangchuk and his young associates at Jantar Mantar, with no respite from an indifferent government and the unbearable summer heat, things began to roll since the morning of July 18. The Delhi Police whisked away Mr. Wangchuk from the dais under the cover of white sheets and took him to the Safdarjung hospital for medical care. Forcing Mr. Wangchuk to abandon his strike, the government surreptitiously acted through the state to restore order, without any commitment towards political morality. The fundamental responsibility of a government in a democracy is to be answerable to the people.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in