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| ANI via khabargaon |
NEW DELHI, JUL 23 (TTP) — Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, on Thursday appealed against linking the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar to incidents of violence without evidence.
In a post on X, Angmo, an educator herself, expressed deep pain over the tarnishing of students' images in the media. "The students' protest is taking place peacefully at Jantar Mantar. If there are reports of violence elsewhere in Delhi, please do not rush to attribute them to this movement without evidence," she stated.
Angmo defended the protesting students, praising their "extraordinary patience, discipline and restraint." She further questioned the systemic distrust of students, asking, "I often wonder: what kind of system is so quick to distrust its own students? Why is it easier to question their intentions than to hear their concerns?" She emphasised that the youth deserve protection and to have their voices heard, rather than being portrayed as villains.
Meanwhile, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), while supporting the underlying Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest regarding the NEET paper leak, strongly condemned recent violent clashes.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the RSS-affiliated student organisation denounced the "acts of chaos, public disruption and violent clashes" and expressed sympathy for injured students and security personnel. The ABVP urged that genuine student issues should not be exploited for "narrow political interests" and called for meaningful dialogue and institutional reforms.
The ABVP reiterated its consistent stance against irregularities in competitive examinations, noting its early demands for a central agency investigation and accountability from the National Testing Agency (NTA). PTI
Our Final Thoughts
Gitanjali Angmo’s poignant defense of the students cuts through the noise surrounding the Jantar Mantar protests, rightly questioning why systemic failures are so often met with immediate distrust of the youth. While her plea for peaceful assembly is vital, the ABVP’s nuanced statement adds a complex layer—supporting the cause while condemning the "rogue" political elements they claim are hijacking the movement. As the CJP agitation continues, ensuring the focus remains on educational reform rather than political point-scoring is the biggest challenge ahead.