‘Sri Lanka, Bangladesh happen when protests are not allowed’: Sonam Wangchuk

NEW DELHI: Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday described protests as a “great mechanism” for governments to improve their performance, citing the unrest in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh as examples of what could happen when demonstrations are not allowed.

“Nations all around the world happily permit protests, and that too right in front of Parliament. In countries like the UK, Norway and Sweden, protests are allowed right in front of Parliament,” the educationist said at an event in Mumbai. “In India, it was far from Parliament. Even when it was just Jantar Mantar, it was too far,” he added.

Wangchuk was referring to demonstrations held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, the capital’s now-denotified designated protest site, in June and July following the NEET-UG paper leak in May. The protests, in which Wangchuk played a key role by undertaking an indefinite fast for over 20 days before being removed and taken to a hospital, ended with the resignation of then-Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25.

His remarks came amid ongoing protests in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Centre deployed extensive security measures, drawing criticism from opposition parties. “Look what happens when protests are not allowed. That is the example of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,” Wangchuk remarked, referring to the youth- and student-led demonstrations in the two neighbouring countries that culminated in the ouster of the incumbent governments.

“If you (the Centre) do things that need not be done, people will turn against you. This will only hurt the government. Do what is right,” he warned. The movements in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were also cited by several opposition leaders, civil society members and student leaders, some of whom called for “regime change” in India along the lines of the two neighbouring countries.

After the ruling BJP seized on these remarks, alleging that the anti-CEC protesters’ real intention was to topple the Modi government, the leaders clarified that they were advocating regime change through elections. Delhi Police has also made several protesters sign peace bonds, undertaking to maintain "peace and good behaviour."