Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticised the BJP-led central government on Thursday for its handling of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike. He drew comparisons to the Congress-led UPA administration’s approach during Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption fast.
In a post on X, Abdullah highlighted what he called the Centre’s “utter insensitivity” amid Wangchuk’s declining health. He noted that ministers under then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had met Hazare and urged him to end his protest.
“All he is demanding is justice for the NEET scam victims and the removal of the education minister. Remember how the Manmohan Singh government and its ministers rushed to meet Anna Hazare and asked him to end his fast? Here, the BJP government doesn’t even care to issue a statement,” Abdullah wrote.
Wangchuk is on the 19th day of his indefinite fast at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He seeks the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam.
In a video message, Wangchuk said his health had suffered but he remained committed to continuing. A senior physician reported that Wangchuk has lost more than nine kilograms since the fast began.
A petition filed in the Delhi High Court seeks urgent medical intervention, including possible force-feeding. The protest is backed by the Cockroach Janta Party, which demands accountability for the alleged NEET paper leak.
The Centre has not yet responded publicly to the criticism or the latest appeals.
