Environmentalist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has disclosed that his team had initially hoped Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi would help conclude his 26-day hunger strike, but the effort did not receive a positive response. The remarks come amid continued debate over Wangchuk ending his fast in the presence of Union ministers.
Wangchuk Says Rahul Gandhi Was Their First Choice
Speaking about the controversy, Wangchuk clarified that his wife, Geetanjali Angmo, had actively tried to reach out to Rahul Gandhi to facilitate the conclusion of the protest. According to him, there was no political bias behind the move.“Actually, we were pondering on breaking my fast through Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Geetanjali was working on that. She was not against Rahul. She was working hard to see if Rahul Gandhi could break my fast. She didn’t get a positive response,” Wangchuk said during an interview.
His statement comes after Geetanjali Angmo faced criticism for comments she made regarding the Congress leadership during the agitation.
Backlash Over Fast Ending With Union Ministers
Questions had been raised after Wangchuk ended his fast during a late-night meeting attended by Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. Critics alleged the development carried political overtones.
Responding to those allegations, Wangchuk maintained that the sequence of events was shaped by circumstances rather than political preference, reiterating that his team had explored other options before the meeting with the Union ministers.
Claims Understanding Was Violated
Wangchuk also alleged that an understanding reached during the midnight discussions was not honoured. According to him, it had been agreed that no photographs from the meeting would be released until he personally announced the end of his protest.“I said the news will be broken on my terms, with pictures of Opposition leaders… Nobody will release any images till I break the news,” Wangchuk said.
He further claimed that senior Intelligence Bureau officials were present during the discussion and were aware of the understanding.
‘I’ve Lost Trust in All These Leaders’
Expressing disappointment over the alleged release of photographs before his announcement, Wangchuk said the incident had affected his confidence in political leaders.“I’ve lost trust in all these leaders,” he said.
The remarks have added another dimension to the political debate surrounding the conclusion of his hunger strike, with attention now shifting to the circumstances under which the protest ended and the differing narratives emerging from various political quarters.
