Shekhar Suman has extended its support to education reform activists Sonam Wangchukwho was taken to Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday morning after reports that his health was deteriorating during his indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. The actor-host raised the issue in the latest episode of Shekhar Tonite, which aired hours before the police action. For more than 20 days, Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging irregularities in the education system and oppositions.
Political satire remains central to Shekhar Suman’s show
Having recently returned to television with Shekhar Tonite, a contemporary reboot of his popular Movers & Shakers, Suman has kept political satire at the heart of the show. Alongside the celebrity interviews and current affairs segments, it is the opening monologue, where Suman offers his take on the most talked about topics of the day, that has become a standout feature. In the latest episode, he turned his attention to Wangchuk’s hunger strike, taking the government to task for remaining silent on the issue.He said, “Social activist Sonam Wanghcuk ji Kai dino se Jantar Mantar for Shiksha Mantri Dharmendra Pradhan ke istife ke liye anshan for baithe hain. Main hairaan hoon yeh dekh ke ki koi hairaan kyun nahin? Ek insaan desh aur samaaj ki behteri ke liye ke liye liye bhavishya par, liye ke ans vihandy anshan par baitha hai, shiksha ke charmaraate dhaanche ko sambhaalne ke liye anshan par baitha hai, aur vyavastha chain se leti hui hai. Woh vyavastha jo na sirf goongi, behri aur samvedanheen hai, balki tang dil, sang dil aur bedil hai. Thake hue urjaheen shareer mein bhale hi shakti na ho, lekin desh ke laakhon yuvaon ki woh taakat hai. Aur gaur se dekha jaaye, to hum sab zinda laashon mein woh ek akela jeevit hai. Principal hairaan hoon yeh dekh ke ki koi hairaan kyun nahin?”.
Shekhar Suman had also raised the issue earlier
Suman’s comments about Wangchuk’s protest are not the first. About two weeks ago, just as the hunger strike began, it had become the satire to weigh in on the issue and question the government’s response. He had said, “Haali hi mein Sonam Wanghcuk saab sarkar ke khilaaf bhookh hartaal par baith gaye, jismein unhone Dharmendra Pradhan ke istife ki maang uthai hai. Main sabse pehle un logon se sawaal karna chahta hoon jo bolte the ki loktantra khatre mein hai. Kahaan hai khatre mein? Aapko sarkar Twitter for trend karne de rahi hai, bhookh hartaal for baithne de rahi hai, aandolan karne de rahi hai, jail jaane de rahi hai, aur kya chahiye? Bachche ki jaan loge kya? Itni saari suvidhayein milne ke baad bhi log chahte hain ki sarkar ab unki baat bhi sune? Loktantra ka matlab sunna hi to hota hai, maanna kab se ho gaya? Wanghcuk ji bhi bade ajeeb hain. Itni si baat par isfa maang rahe hain. Aisa kya ho gaya? Kuch lakh bachchon ka bhavishya hi to daav par laga. Kisi ne coaching ke liye ghar hi to girvi rakh diya, kisi ke maata-pita ne zevar hi to bech diye, kisi ne poora ek saal band kamre mein hi to guzaara, aur kuch bees-ikkees bachchon ne aatmahatya hi to kar li. Bas, ab itni si baat par agar mantri istifa dene lage, to phir har saal naya mantri shapath leta dikhega. Uska aadha samay shapath lene mein jaayega, aur aadha isistifa dene mein. To vikas kahaan se aayega, bataiye? Kuch bhi mat poochhiye. Just shut up.”
cockroach Janata Party founder begins his own hunger strike
Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijit Dipke also launched a fresh protest in response to the advances at Jantar Mantar. A few hours after Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital, Dipke revealed that he was starting an indefinite hunger strike of his own, in solidarity with the activist. “I am starting an indefinite hunger strike starting right now,” Dipke wrote in a post on X.