Shekhar Suman extended his activist support to education reform Sonam Wangchukwho was transferred to Safdarjung Hospital by: Delhi Police: on Saturday morning following reports of his health deteriorating during his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The actor-anchor raised the issue in the latest episode of Shekhar Tonite, which aired hours before the police action took place. For more than 20 days now, Wangchuk is on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and alleging irregularities in the education system and competitive examinations.
Political satire remains central to Shekhar Suman’s show
Recently returning to television with Shekhar Tonite, a contemporary reboot of his popular Movers & Shakers, Suman has kept political satire at the core of the show. Along with interviews with artists and current affairs segments, this is the opening monologue, where Suman offers his opinion on the most discussed issues of the day, which has become a unique feature. In the latest episode, he turned his attention to Wangchuk’s hunger strike, tasking the government with keeping quiet on the issue.He said, “Social Activist Sonam Wanghcuk ji Kai dino se Jantar Mantar par Shiksha Mantri Dharmendra Pradhan ke istife ke liye anshan par baithe hain. Main hairaan hoon yeh dekh ke ki koi hairaan kyun nahin? anshan par baitha hai, shiksha ke charmaraate dhaanche ko sambhaalne ke liye anshan par baitha hai, aur vyavastha chain se leti hui hai. Woh vyavastha jo na sirf goongi, behri aur samvedanheen hai, balki tang dil, sang dil aur bedil hai. Thake hue urjaheen shareer mein bhale hi shakti na ho, lekin desh ke laakhon yuvaon ki woh taakat hai. Aur gaur se dekha jaaye, to hum sab zinda laashon mein woh ek akela jeevit hai. Main hairaan hoon yeh dekh ke ki koi hairaan kyun nahi?”.
Shekhar Suman had also raised the issue earlier
Suman’s comments on Wangchuk’s protest were not the first. About two weeks later, when the hunger strike began, he returned to the mockery to weigh in on the issue and question the government’s response. He said, “Haali hi mein Sonam Wanghcuk saab sarkar ke khilaaf bhookh hartaal par baith gaye, jismein unhone Dharmendra Pradhan ke istife ki maang uthai hai. Main sabse pehle un logon se sawaal karna chahta hoon jo bolte the ki loktantra khatre mein hai. Kahaan hai khatre mein? Aapko sarkar Twitter par trend karne de rahi hai, bhookh hartaal par baithne de rahi hai, aandolan karne de rahi hai, jail jaane de rahi hai, aur kya chahiye? Bachche ki jaan loge kya? Itni saari suvidhayein milne ke baad bhi log chahte hain ki sarkar ab unki baat bhi sune? Loktantra ka matlab sunna hi to hota hai, maanna kab se ho gaya? Wanghcuk ji bhi says ajeeb hain. Itni si baat par istifa maang rahe hain. Aisa kya ho gaya? Kuch lakh bachchon ka bhavishya hi to daav par laga. Kisi ne coaching ke liye ghar hi to girvi rakh diya, kisi ke maata-pita ne zevar hi to bech diye, kisi ne poora ek saal band kamre mein hi to guzaara, aur kuch bees-ikkees bachchon ne aatmahatya hi to kar li. Bas, ab itni si baat par agar mantri istifa dene lage, to phir har saal naya mantri shapath leta dikhega. Uska aadha samay shapath lene mein jaayega, aur aadha istifa dene mein. To vikas kahaan se aayega, bataiye? Kuch bhi mat poochhiye. Just be quiet.”
cockroach Janata Party: the founder started his own hunger strike
Abhijit Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, also launched a new protest in response to the developments at Jantar Mantar. Hours after Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital, Dipke revealed that she had started an indefinite hunger strike herself, in solidarity with the activist. “I have started an indefinite hunger strike that starts today,” Dipke wrote in a post on X.