Centre indifferent to Sonam Wangchuk's health condition: Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 16 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday accused the central government of being indifferent to the health condition of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast against the alleged irregularities in the NEET exam. Vijayan, in a Facebook post, said that reports about his health condition are concerning, but the Centre was not willing to hold a discussion with him on the issue raised by him. The Marxist veteran said that the central government was being indifferent not only to the anguish of the students, but also the life of Wangchuk, many of whose organs are malfunctioning as he continues to lose weight, and urged the Centre not to allow his condition to deteriorate further. The Cockroach Janta Party has been holding a protest for over 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. Accusing the Centre of gross negligence, Vijayan said that the Delhi High Court's intervention in the matter "shows the depth of the government's failure". "It is absolutely shameful for a democratic society that the highest courts of the country have to reprimand the government to protect the life of a citizen who is fighting for justice," he contended. Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court directed authorities to monitor Wangchuk's health on a daily basis and provide medical intervention whenever required, observing that "the life of any citizen is precious". Vijayan, in his post, further said that the youth were protesting for freedom of the education sector from the mismanagement and corruption of the central government, and to seek justice for their brothers and sisters who have lost their dreams and died by suicide due to the irregularities in the exam. "The central government should not allow his health condition to deteriorate any further. Along with this, necessary steps should be taken to clean up the education system, which is riddled with corruption," he said. In his post, he extended his support to the protest and Wangchuk, "who is ready to sacrifice his life for it". PTI HMP KH