Left parties condemn Wangchuk's removal; use of force; back ongoing protest

New Delhi, Jul 18 (PTI) Left parties on Saturday condemned the police action against activist Sonam Wangchuk and protesters at Jantar Mantar, and accused the Centre of suppressing democratic dissent instead of addressing the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, while extending support to the continuing student-led agitation. Their comments came after educator and climate activist Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 21 days, was forcibly removed from Jantar Mantar earlier in the day by the Delhi Police and whisked away to Safdarjung Hospital. The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation said the protest would continue despite Wangchuk's removal from the protest site, with three members of its student wing AISA -- Neha, Manish and Aameen -- continuing their indefinite hunger strike. The party also appealed to people to join the July 20 Parliament march. CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby and Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D Raja also criticised the police action, alleging that the government had resorted to force instead of responding to the protesters' demands and calling for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. In a statement, CPI(ML) Liberation alleged that the Modi government had chosen "intimidation, force and the suppression of democratic dissent" because it had "no answers to the growing anger against corruption, paper leaks and the systematic destruction of the public education system". The party's general secretary, Dipankar Bhattacharya, said in a post on X that police had acted when fewer protesters were present. "In the early hours of day 21 of the protest fast at Jantar Mantar, when the presence was a little thin, Delhi Police succeeded in removing Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site. But students foiled the disruption design of the police, and comrades Neha, Manish and Aameen are now continuing the fast from the main stage. Salute the exemplary strength and resolve of the student protesters," Bhattacharya said. The CPI(ML) Liberation also reiterated its call for the July 20 Parliament march, demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the disbanding of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the scrapping of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and an end to paper leaks. In a post on X, Baby said, "Strongly condemn the detention of Sonam Wangchuk and Abhijeet Dipke by Delhi Police. Instead of sacking the education minister, under whose nose the scandalous leak of papers happened, and dismantling the system that continues to ruin the future of lakhs of students, the government is coming down with a heavy hand on peaceful protesters." "This displays the authoritarian attitude of the Modi government. Silencing dissent cannot be a substitute for accountability," he added. D Raja also condemned the police action, saying, "The Delhi Police's assault on a peaceful democratic protest and forcible removal of Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar is utterly condemnable. The assault on CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and fellow protesters reflects a mentality that prefers to use force over dialogue and accountability." "If the government is genuinely concerned about Sonam Wangchuk's health, it should engage with the protesters and address their legitimate demands instead of resorting to repression. The rot in India's examination system is now visible to the entire country. Even the tragic loss of 17 students has failed to make this government acknowledge its failures. "Force will not crush the resolve of lakhs of students fighting for justice. Repression cannot bury the truth," Raja said, adding that the education. The Delhi Police forcibly moved Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday after his health deteriorated on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike, citing expert medical advice and directions of the Delhi High Court. Following the police action, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke began an indefinite hunger strike, while AISA activists Neha, Manish and Aameen continued their fast at Jantar Mantar for the 21st day. Protest organisers said the July 20 march to Parliament will go ahead as scheduled. PTI AO PRK