Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut, criticized the Central Government for its response to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Raut accused the government of using force to suppress democratic protests and being afraid of the youth. He highlighted the government’s dismissal of prominent voices like Wangchuk and Abhijit Dipke as minor distractions.
Reflecting on the crackdown on protesters, Raut emphasized the resilience of activists and the widespread support they have garnered across the nation. He condemned the government for not engaging with protesters peacefully and criticized its handling of peaceful rallies. Raut called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to address the grievances of the youth.
Raut warned that the government might use the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against protesters and urged them to redirect their march towards the ED headquarters if blocked from Parliament. He criticized the government for allegedly influencing key constitutional institutions like the judiciary and accused them of not safeguarding constitutional values. Raut called for the courts to issue directives to the government to address youth concerns.
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, Uddhav Thackeray, also stood in solidarity with the activists at a demonstration in Dadar. Thackeray criticized the government’s insensitivity towards the youth and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over paper leak controversies. He reiterated his party’s support for the protest led by Abhijit Dipke and Wangchuk, calling for unity among citizens and political parties in supporting the youth movement.
