New Delhi: As environmentalist and education reform advocate Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar continues to draw support from opposition leaders, civil society groups and public figures, questions have also been raised over the Congress party's perceived absence from the centre of the protest.
The debate intensified on social media after several users asked why parties such as the Left Front, Trinamool Congress (TMC), Samajwadi Party (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) appeared more visibly associated with the movement than the Congress leadership.
Responding to the criticism, Congress MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani gave a detailed statement in a social media post, defending the party's record on student issues and its support for Wangchuk's cause.
Working President, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee and Vadgam MLA Mevani said it was incorrect to suggest that Congress had ignored Sonam Wangchuk or the issues he has raised. "I respect the concern in your post. When someone like Wangchuk ji, known for real educational innovation, goes on a hunger strike against irregularities that are destroying the future of lakhs of children and parents, it deserves everyone's attention," he wrote. He added that the deterioration in Wangchuk's health was a matter of concern and asserted that Congress supports both his demands and the larger issues of educational reforms and Ladakh's rights.
According to Mevani, Congress has "not even once" questioned Wangchuk's movement or criticised students participating in it.
Rejecting allegations that the party remained inactive, Mevani argued that Congress and its student and youth wings had been protesting examination irregularities long before the current Jantar Mantar fast.
He highlighted the role of the NSUI and IYC.
According to him, workers of both organisations have organised protests across several states over paper leaks and examination scams, during which many allegedly faced police action, including water cannons, lathi charges and injuries.
Mevani cited examples including:
1. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda leading protests in Haryana.
2. Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jeetu Patwari and party workers allegedly sustaining injuries during demonstrations.
3. Similar protests held in Rajasthan and other states demanding accountability over examination irregularities.
Mevani also pointed to Rahul Gandhi's nationwide #ChhatronKiGunj campaign, describing it as a large-scale outreach programme conducted across 28 cities with significant student populations.
He said the campaign involved interactions with students, meetings, public programmes and protests focusing on Clean and transparent examinations, Employment opportunities, Educational reforms and Youth-related policy concerns.
According to him, this reflected Congress' continued engagement with student issues independent of the Jantar Mantar protest.
The Congress leader further argued that Rahul Gandhi has consistently stood with victims of injustice across the country. Mewani listed several instances where Gandhi had stood with the sufferers. "Rahul Gandhi’s way of standing with people is remembered on the streets, even if media sometimes forgets. Despite losing his father and grandmother to violence, he walked over 4000 km in Bharat Jodo Yatra knowing the threats to his life. He reaches grieving families quietly", the leader stated citing examples from interactions with NEET-affected students in Kota and follow-ups on their pain, Mandsaur visit to console families of farmers killed in firing, Bhatta Parsaul support for farmers against land grab where Gandhi got arrested but stood firm and even meeting Mohammad Deepak (the brave gym trainer who defended a Muslim shopkeeper as “Mohammad Deepak”), and assuring full support.
Addressing criticism over Congress' visibility at the Jantar Mantar protest, Mevani argued that different platforms working on similar issues should complement rather than compete with each other.
He said the sacrifices of NSUI and Youth Congress workers, the demands raised through the Chhatron Ki Gunj campaign and Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike should all be amplified together.
He concluded by asserting that Congress supports students on issues including paper leaks, employment and education, and called for unity among youth movements rather than divisions based on organisational affiliation. "Congress is with the youngsters on every demand, paper leaks, jobs, education. No blame, only support. Together the students’ voice will echo loud for real change," Mevani concluded.
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