Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday extended support to the ongoing protest against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, saying the movement should remain above party politics and receive support from all political parties without the display of political affiliations.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray said Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi should also stand with the protesters.
He also made an emotional appeal to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, urging him to end his indefinite hunger strike, saying his life was too valuable to be put at risk.
The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, has entered its 24th day. The group has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. It has also sought ₹1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy earlier this year. A fresh NEET examination was conducted last month.
The agitation began on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and has been observing an indefinite hunger strike since then. According to doctors, his health has worsened, with a significant drop in blood pressure and a weight loss of nearly 7.8 kg since the fast began.
The CJP has announced a march to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
Backing the protest, Thackeray said there was nothing inappropriate about demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister. He reiterated that political parties should support the movement without turning it into a partisan event.
He also announced that Shiv Sena (UBT) would organise a protest in Maharashtra on July 20 in solidarity with the demonstrators in Delhi. The party’s Members of Parliament, he added, would raise the issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Appealing directly to Wangchuk, Thackeray said the activist’s life was important for the country and urged him to withdraw his hunger strike, claiming that the Centre appeared indifferent to the ongoing agitation.
Separately, Thackeray said he will visit Nagpur on July 18 to participate in the ‘Ram Raksha’ protest launched by his party earlier this month over the alleged misappropriation of donations collected at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
