The Congress's protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, during which Rahul Gandhi and several senior Opposition leaders were detained, has drawn criticism from Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of education activist Sonam Wangchuk. Angmo said the July 21 demonstration was "insincere" and argued that Congress leaders should have joined the protesting students at Jantar Mantar instead.
Speaking to India Today, Angmo alleged that political leaders were attempting to "exploit" Wangchuk and his reputation, adding that the public could no longer be misled. Wangchuk, who was removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site last week, has continued his indefinite hunger strike from the hospital, entering its 26th day on Thursday.
Angmo said the protest outside the Prime Minister's residence lacked sincerity and asserted that today's youth would reject leaders they considered insincere.
Her remarks came two days after Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders staged a sit-in near the Prime Minister's official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg to protest against the alleged police crackdown on students during the Parliament march. During the demonstration, Rahul Gandhi was detained by Delhi Police after being physically removed from the protest site and sustained a nose injury.
By holding the protest outside the Prime Minister's residence, the Congress sought to shift the focus from administrative issues to political accountability.
Angmo's comments suggest that she believes the movement has remained largely organic and independent of political parties.
'The movement is apolitical'
Angmo said the student protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) had sent a strong message to political leaders that symbolic gestures were no longer enough.
According to her, the movement had demonstrated that political leaders must match their words with meaningful action and could no longer rely on insincere promises.
A Chevening scholar from the University of Oxford, Angmo stressed that the movement was not aligned with either the government or the Opposition.
She said that, for the protesters, Parliament remained the highest democratic institution and that their objective was to ensure education received the attention it deserved.
At the same time, she clarified that people without political motives were welcome to participate in the protest.
She added that anyone joining with personal or political agendas would eventually be sidelined because, according to her, the movement was rooted in sincerity.
Criticism of the BJP
Angmo also criticised the BJP, saying the party was neither truly Hindu nor genuinely nationalist.
Explaining her remarks, she pointed to the July 20 "Sansad Chalo" march, which she said reflected the inclusive values of Hinduism because people from different religions and backgrounds participated together for a common cause.
She said she was disappointed that the BJP described itself as a Hindu nationalist party, arguing that its actions did not reflect either Hindu values or nationalism.
Angmo further said that preventing protests, obstructing justice and branding young protesters as anti-national could not be considered acts of nationalism.
She urged the BJP not to associate Hinduism with such actions.
Wangchuk's latest demands
Angmo has remained by Wangchuk's side since he was removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site on July 18.
He was initially admitted to the government-run Safdarjung Hospital before the Delhi High Court permitted his transfer to a hospital of his choice after Angmo filed a petition.
On Wednesday, Wangchuk released a letter outlining the conditions under which he would end his hunger strike.
Among his demands was an assurance from the government that no student who participated in the July 20 march would face punitive action.
Notably, the letter did not include his earlier demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a change that was viewed by some as a moderation of his position.
However, Wangchuk said Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, who met him in hospital earlier this week, had assured him that his demand regarding Pradhan's resignation would be considered.
