New Delhi, July 20, 2026
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut, on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Central Government against the backdrop of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s ongoing hunger strike, accusing the administration of being “scared of the youth” and suppressing democratic protests at Jantar Mantar in the national Capital through brute force by the police.
Reflecting on the crackdown against protesters, Raut in his address before the youth gathered at Jantar Mantar, stated that the government initially dismissed prominent voices like Sonam Wangchuk and Abhijit Dipke as minor distractions.
“The government thought they could crush these activists like tiny insects. But these so-called ‘cockroaches’ have proven remarkably resilient. Today, people across the entire nation are stepping out to support them,” he said.
Raut criticised the NDA government’s refusal to grant permission for peaceful rallies, stating that a truly democratic leadership would engage with protesters rather than ban their marches or forcibly hospitalise activists like Sonam Wangchuk under police pressure.
He stated that the government should have addressed the youth’s grievances directly and sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to satisfy the country’s younger generation who have been asking for his resignation over the NEET paper leaks.
Raut remarked that if given the chance, the government would unleash the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on these protestors.
He urged the protesters, stating, “If you are blocked from marching to Parliament, redirect your march straight toward the ED headquarters.”
Calling the ED and the judiciary “enslaved agencies,” Raut alleged that key constitutional institutions, including the Supreme Court, are working under the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, rather than safeguarding constitutional values.
Raut stated that if the courts were truly independent, they would issue directives to the government to listen to the youth and address their concerns instead of remaining silent on the issue.
Earlier, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief, Uddhav Thackeray, addressed a demonstration at Shivaji Park in Dadar on Sunday standing in solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk and youth leader Abhijit Dipke over the ongoing student grievances and examination irregularities.
Thackeray launched a direct assault on the ruling administration, declaring that the current Union government’s insensitivity toward the nation’s youth creates a groundswell of anger in which the government “ought to be reduced to ashes”.
Thackeray reiterated his demand for the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over paper leak controversies (including NEET), urging the government to replace him with someone capable of safeguarding students’ futures.
He reaffirmed his party’s full support for the protest led by Abhijit Dipke and Wangchuk and urged the citizens and political parties nationwide to stand united behind the youth movement.(Agency)
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