CPI(M) Condemns Wangchuk's Arrest, Urges Centre to End Crackdown on Students' Protest

Thiruvananthapuram: The CPI(M) Kerala State Secretariat has condemned the forcible detention of education, social and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been observing a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET question paper leak. In a statement, the party said the action reflected the anti-democratic character and "arrogance of power" of the BJP-led Union government. It also expressed full support for the ongoing protest.

Wangchuk had been observing a hunger strike in solidarity with the agitation led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has been continuing in the national capital for more than 20 days. The protest is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging repeated irregularities in examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

The CPI(M) alleged that the Union government was targeting the student movement in an attempt to shield the minister facing allegations. It said the students had continued their indefinite hunger strike despite the government's actions.

The party urged the Union government to abandon what it described as attempts to suppress the protest through anti-democratic means and reiterated its solidarity with the agitation.