'India needs your voice': Shashi Tharoor urges Sonam Wangchuk to end hunger strike

Tharoor urged Sonam Wangchuk to end his strike

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday penned an open letter expressing solidarity with the students protesting at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, while urging climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike.He appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast, saying the climate activist had "awakened the conscience of the nation". "To Shri Sonam Wangchuk-ji, my heartfelt appeal: please end your fast. You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do. India needs your voice for the long road ahead," he said, in an open letter.

With Parliament in session again from Monday, we will have an opportunity to raise the students’ issues in the highest forum of our democracy.

That’s where the problem should be addressed, not by fasting unto death. Please heed my plea. And finally, to the Government: I respectfully urge you to reach out and engage in the dialogue our democracy owes its young citizens. That is not weakness; that is statesmanship," he added.Further addressing the protesters as "dear young friends", Tharoor said he was writing "not as a politician or an MP, but as someone deeply troubled by what is happening to your generation of young Indians."

Talking about his own upbringing in a middle-class family, the Congress leader said merit-based examinations had enabled him to pursue higher education and build his career, arguing that a fair examination system remains the only pathway for millions of young Indians from lower, and middle-income households."When that ladder is broken — papers leaked, examinations cancelled, trust destroyed — the children of the rich and powerful do not suffer.

They have other ladders. It is your dreams, and your families' sacrifices... that are betrayed," he wrote.

Backing the students' protest, Tharoor said their anger reflected "the anguish of a generation that did everything right and was still betrayed", adding that peaceful demonstrations had given voice to the concerns of young IndiansTharoor also urged the Centre to engage with the protesters, saying dialogue with young citizens was "not weakness; that is statesmanship."