Shekhar Suman has extended his support to education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was moved to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday morning after reports of his health taking a turn for the worse during his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The actor-anchor raised the issue on the latest episode of Shekhar Tonite, which aired hours before the police action took place. For over 20 days now, Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and alleging irregularities in the education system and competitive examinations.
Political satire remains central to Shekhar Suman’s show
Having recently returned to television with Shekhar Tonite, a contemporary reboot of his popular Movers & Shakers, Suman has kept political satire at the core of the show. Alongside celebrity interviews and current affairs segments, it’s the opening monologue, where Suman offers his take on the day’s most talked-about issues, that has become a standout feature. In the latest episode, he turned his attention to Wangchuk’s hunger strike, taking the government to task for staying silent on the issue.He said, “Social Activist Sonam Wanghcuk ji Kai dino se Jantar Mantar par Shiksha Mantri Dharmendra Pradhan ke istife ke liye anshan par baithe hain. Main hairaan hoon yeh dekh ke ki koi hairaan kyun nahin? Ek insaan desh aur samaaj ki behteri ke liye anshan par baitha hai, vidyarthiyon ke bhavishya ke liye anshan par baitha hai, shiksha ke charmaraate dhaanche ko sambhaalne ke liye anshan par baitha hai, aur vyavastha chain se leti hui hai. Woh vyavastha jo na sirf goongi, behri aur samvedanheen hai, balki tang dil, sang dil aur bedil hai. Thake hue urjaheen shareer mein bhale hi shakti na ho, lekin desh ke laakhon yuvaon ki woh taakat hai. Aur gaur se dekha jaaye, to hum sab zinda laashon mein woh ek akela jeevit hai. Main hairaan hoon yeh dekh ke ki koi hairaan kyun nahin?”.
Shekhar Suman had raised the issue earlier too
Suman’s comments on Wangchuk’s protest aren’t a first. Roughly two weeks ago, right when the hunger strike began, he had turned to satire to weigh in on the issue and question the government’s response. He had said, “Haali hi mein Sonam Wanghcuk saab sarkar ke khilaaf bhookh hartaal par baith gaye, jismein unhone Dharmendra Pradhan ke istife ki maang uthai hai. Main sabse pehle un logon se sawaal karna chahta hoon jo bolte the ki loktantra khatre mein hai. Kahaan hai khatre mein? Aapko sarkar Twitter par trend karne de rahi hai, bhookh hartaal par baithne de rahi hai, aandolan karne de rahi hai, jail jaane de rahi hai, aur kya chahiye? Bachche ki jaan loge kya? Itni saari suvidhayein milne ke baad bhi log chahte hain ki sarkar ab unki baat bhi sune? Loktantra ka matlab sunna hi to hota hai, maanna kab se ho gaya? Wanghcuk ji bhi bade ajeeb hain. Itni si baat par istifa maang rahe hain. Aisa kya ho gaya? Kuch lakh bachchon ka bhavishya hi to daav par laga. Kisi ne coaching ke liye ghar hi to girvi rakh diya, kisi ke maata-pita ne zevar hi to bech diye, kisi ne poora ek saal band kamre mein hi to guzaara, aur kuch bees-ikkees bachchon ne aatmahatya hi to kar li. Bas, ab itni si baat par agar mantri istifa dene lage, to phir har saal naya mantri shapath leta dikhega. Uska aadha samay shapath lene mein jaayega, aur aadha istifa dene mein. To vikas kahaan se aayega, bataiye? Kuch bhi mat poochhiye. Just shut up.”
Cockroach Janata Party founder begins his own hunger strike
Abhijit Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, also launched a fresh protest in response to the developments at Jantar Mantar. Just hours after Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital, Dipke revealed that he was starting an indefinite hunger strike of his own, in solidarity with the activist. “I am starting an indefinite hunger strike beginning right now,” Dipke wrote in a post on X.
