Progressive writers, activists of Shivamogga extend support to students, Wangchuk protesting in Delhi

Writers, activists and representatives of various progressive organizations at Shivamogga organized a protest on Monday, July 20, 2026, in solidarity with students and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on hunger strike in Delhi and calling for a ‘Parliamentary Chalo’ protest.

Protesters gathered in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in the city and expressed their support for Mr. Wangchuk and the protesting students by chanting slogans against the Central government. They condemned the alleged use of police force against peaceful protesters instead of engaging in dialogue with them

‘Indifferent government’

Prominent poet Savitha Nagabhushan said that in democracies, it is the responsibility of the government to listen and respond to the concerns of its people. He alleged that the ruling government was indifferent to the protests and people’s demands.

Author Prof. Sabitha Bannadi alleged that the Center was reluctant to recognize the peaceful protest. “There was also a campaign to discredit the protest by spreading misinformation about Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike. The protest is against allegations of irregularities in the NEET exam and the alleged involvement of a mafia in the said document leaks,” he said.

M. Gurumurthy, state organizer of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS)’s Karnataka unit, alleged that the Center forcibly removed Mr. Wangchuk from the protest site and showed no interest in the issues raised by the protesters.

Reiterate demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation

The protesters demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign, taking moral responsibility for the situation.

Lawyer KP Sripal, activist KL Ashok, poet S. Usha, writer B. Chandre Gowda, Prof. Keshava Sharma, Prof. Meti Mallikarjun, Prof. Prakash Marganahalli and Prof. Krishnamurthy was among those present. Protesters submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner V. Abhishek