Politics should have room for compassion, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Thursday, as he called on the Center not to approach activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 19 days.
Abdullah pointed out that the activist has only one demand: the resignation of Federal Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“The education minister should either resign or be removed from his post,” Abdullah told reporters here, as he along with a Ladakhi activist and dozens of others participated in a protest at Jantar Mantar.
He added: “The surprising thing is that it has been 18 days, and perhaps the 19th day is continuing. He has lost about 9 kilograms, and this is affecting his health. But the government is not budging, and is not appealing to him in any way to stop his hunger strike. Politics has its place, but somewhere there must also be a place for humanity and compassion.”
Read also | What is Rahul Gandhi up to amid uproar over absence from CJP-Wangchuk protest: ‘Are you upset, Modi ji?’
Comparing the Centre’s approach towards the Anna Hazare-led protest during the United Progressive Alliance rule, Abdullah said the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh sent his ministers to convince the protesters to end their hunger strike and take the path of dialogue.
“But no attempt has been made yet to talk to Wangchuk. We do not know what the government’s position will be in the coming days, but we are certainly concerned about Wangchuk’s health,” he added.
Abdullah said that if his uncle Mustafa Kamal, leader of the National Congress Party, had not died, one of his party members would have joined the protest with Wangchuk.
He added: “If we had not been embroiled in our grief here, perhaps one of us would have gone there and expressed our support for him. But he is not on a hunger strike to listen to what we say. He needs guarantees from the government.”
The Prime Minister said that the demands of the demonstrators are not unjust.
“A lot of people (politicians) have gone there. When they demand justice regarding NEET exam, we also feel that their demand is not wrong; the demand is right. But I don’t know why this government does not even care about these things.”
Read also | ‘Force-feeding Sonam Wangchuk’: Petition in Delhi HC seeks liquid diet and hospitalizes climate activist on hunger strike
The Cockroach Janta Party has been on protest for over 25 days demanding Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam and paper leak.
Wangchuk joined the strike on June 28 and has been on hunger strike since then.
Abdullah also criticized those who failed to refrain from making political statements despite the death of his family.
“We are having a condolence gathering here. ‘Shoram’ (fourth day of mourning) tomorrow. Now, there should be some kind of break for politics. Surprisingly, those who express their condolences at home are doing politics abroad. If you want to do politics, don’t come, because it looks strange,” the NCP leader said.
