World Humanist Forum, Asia, Urges you to Sign the Petition and Support the Cause of the Youth of India Immediately
Issue for International Support
Millions of students in India sit for Entrance exams/tests for various Government Jobs. Their preparations for these highly competitive exams cost them a lot of money, mostly through high-interest loans and mortgaging jewellery or land/house, and hence a huge emotional burden apart from the financial liability.
The ratio between the number of seats and contenders is in the range of 1:1,00,000 of even more.
In the last few years, many examination papers have been leaked at the last moment, resulting in the cancellation of exams, with long-term postponement, causing huge losses to applicants.
Many students have committed suicide due to extreme frustration.
Recently, when this happened, people have taken to the streets, and this campaign resulted in a hunger strike — “fast-unto-death” by a small team of protesters, led by a known Scientist-cum-socialworker-cum-education reformer, Mr. Sonam Wangchuk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonam_Wangchuk). The demand is that the Education Minister should resign as a matter of accountability.
Today is the 19th day of his strike, and his physical condition is very bad.
The current Rightist-Government, due to its extreme insensitivity towards people, has not even sent a representative to persuade them to call off the strike and discuss the matter, thus cooling down the matter.
Across the country, people are urging him to stop this hunger strike and resort to other means for his life (and, of course, that of the team).
“To the young people and Sonam Wangchuk who are currently fasting: end your fast. Spread across the country, prepare the ground for a movement, save the nation, and save yourselves.
This cruel, corrupt, greedy, and murderous government cares nothing for whether you live or die.
The Satyagrahi tool of fasting is meant to be used before sensitive people, not those who have turned to stone. What is the point of banging one’s head against a stone?”
This petition has been started, and we, Humanists, are supporting it.
We request you to please sign the petition in your personal name and also in the name of each of our Organisms, as much as possible, immediately, to give international strength to the matter.
Here is the link to learn more about the issue and the petition that you can sign: