Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jul 18: Music composer Vishal Dadlani and veteran actor Prakash Raj have criticised the Delhi Police's removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site at Jantar Mantar, accusing the authorities of suppressing a peaceful democratic demonstration.
Reacting to the incident on Saturday, Dadlani shared a video on Instagram expressing his anger and disappointment over the action taken against Wangchuk, who had been observing an indefinite hunger strike.
Calling the incident deeply disturbing, the composer questioned the government's approach towards peaceful protests and urged citizens to raise their voices. He said the developments had left him heartbroken and angry, adding that he wished he had been present to support the protesters.
Actor Prakash Raj also strongly criticised the Centre through a post on X, alleging that the government had chosen force over dialogue. He described the removal of Wangchuk and the disruption of the students' protest as a sign of fear and accused the administration of behaving in an undemocratic manner.
Wangchuk was taken into medical care by the Delhi Police during the early hours of July 18 after completing 21 days of an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
According to the police, the action was taken following medical advice regarding his deteriorating health and in compliance with directions issued by the Delhi High Court. Officials said protesters briefly attempted to obstruct the operation but maintained that only minimal force was used while shifting him to a hospital.
However, Wangchuk's supporters alleged that he was removed without his consent and termed the police action a crackdown on a peaceful protest.
The activist has been fasting to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, particularly the controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak.
The NEET controversy centred on allegations of question paper leaks, examination irregularities and unfair advantages during the National Testing Agency's medical entrance examination. The issue intensified after an unusually high number of candidates secured top scores, triggering nationwide protests by students seeking greater transparency, accountability and, in some cases, a re-examination. While the government defended the examination process, investigating agencies launched probes into the alleged malpractice, raising broader concerns about the credibility of the country's competitive examination system.