Shekhar Suman voiced strong support for Sonam Wangchuk during his political satire show Shekhar Tonite.
Wangchuk was shifted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday morning after his health deteriorated during an indefinite hunger strike.
Suman criticised the government's silence and insensitivity towards the protest, highlighting the plight of lakhs of students.
Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike has drawn support from several members of the film industry, including actors Hrithik Roshan, Shatrughan Sinha, Sonakshi Sinha, Abhay Deol, Anurag Kashyap, Swara Bhasker and Kiran Rao. The latest celeb to join the bandwagon is Shekhar Suman.
Shekhar Suman has backed education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk in the latest episode of Shekhar Tonite. The episode aired hours before Delhi Police shifted Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday (July 18) morning after his health reportedly deteriorated.
Suman slams government silence
Suman targeted the state's silence over Wangchuk's hunger strike. Condemning it, he said, "Social Activist Sonam Wanghcuk ji Kai dino se Jantar Mantar par Shiksha Mantri Dharmendra Pradhan ke istife ke liye anshan par baithe hain. Main hairaan hoon yeh dekh ke ki koi hairaan kyun nahin? Ek insaan desh aur samaaj ki behteri ke liye anshan par baitha hai, vidyarthiyon ke bhavishya ke liye 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. Main hairaan hoon yeh dekh ke ki koi hairaan kyun nahin?"
Satirical take on democracy
Earlier, he humorously called out the administration's silence. Suman 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 par trend karne de rahi hai, bhookh hartaal par 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 istifa 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 istifa dene mein. To vikas kahaan se aayega, bataiye? Kuch bhi mat poochhiye. Just shut up."
The fast has crossed 20 days. The protestors are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive exams and the schooling system.
Following Wangchuk's hospitalisation, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke joined the protest.
