The Congress party has officially extended its support to activist Sonam Wangchuk on the 19th day of his hunger strike over the NEET-UG controversy. This move, backed by Sonia Gandhi, draws historical parallels to Indira Gandhi's 1984 visit to Ladakh to resolve a strike by Wangchuk's father.

Key Takeaways

  • Congress formally extends solidarity to Sonam Wangchuk on day 19 of his hunger strike over the NEET controversy.
  • Sonia Gandhi invoked a 1984 historical parallel involving Indira Gandhi and Wangchuk's father, Sonam Wangyal, to rally party support.
  • A humorous slip of the tongue at Jantar Mantar saw SP MP Dimple Yadav introduced as veteran actress Dimple Kapadia.
  • Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil launched a water conservation campaign targeting school children in Varanasi and Ganga-bank villages.

In a significant political development, the Indian National Congress has officially broken its silence regarding climate activist and reformist Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. On the 19th day of his protest, which demands accountability and the resignation of the Union Education Minister over the controversial NEET-UG paper leaks, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal visited the protest site. Venugopal assured Wangchuk of the party's unwavering support, promising to aggressively confront the Narendra Modi-led government on the issue of educational integrity.

A Historical Parallel: The Indira Gandhi Connection

Internal party sources reveal that the decision to back Wangchuk was heavily influenced by Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi. While a segment of the Congress leadership remained skeptical about aligning with the activist's platform, Sonia Gandhi drew a profound historical parallel. She reminded party leaders of a 1984 incident where the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, flew to Leh to personally meet Wangchuk’s father, Sonam Wangyal, who was on a hunger strike demanding Scheduled Tribe status for Ladakhis. Indira Gandhi had successfully persuaded Wangyal to end his fast, showcasing a legacy of direct engagement that Sonia Gandhi urged the current leadership to emulate.

Humor Amid Protest: The 'Dimple Kapadia' Slip

The atmosphere at Jantar Mantar, otherwise tense and solemn, witnessed a brief moment of levity during the arrival of Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders. As Mainpuri MP Dimple Yadav walked towards the protest dais to express solidarity, the stage announcer mistakenly introduced her as the legendary actress "yuva MP Dimple Kapadia." The crowd immediately corrected the slip, prompting the announcer to frantically repeat her correct name, which elicited lighthearted laughter from the protesting students and activists gathered at the venue.

Catching 'Em Young: Jal Shakti Ministry's New Initiative

Parallelly, in the corridors of governance, Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil has initiated a unique grassroots campaign aimed at fostering environmental consciousness among the youth. The ministry is distributing specially designed notebooks to school-children residing in villages along the banks of the River Ganga in Uttar Pradesh. Emphasizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency of Varanasi, these notebooks feature the Prime Minister's photograph alongside key messages promoting water conservation, building on the broader 'Jal Sanchay Jan भागीदारी' community-led framework.