Did Modi government learn a lesson from Anna movement? Why was it necessary to remove Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar, former Congressman told the reason

Ladakh’s social activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk’s fast at Jantar Mantar was not limited to just one environmental or constitutional demand. This is becoming a new political debate on the central government’s policy to deal with the protests. This debate got fueled when Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) leader and former Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam claimed on social media that the Modi government took a lesson from the Anna Hazare movement.

Former Congressman Sanjay Nirupam wrote that Sonam Wangchuk’s fast was successful in attracting the attention of the entire country, but her life was equally important. He said that after the court order, Delhi Police took him to the hospital. According to him, this step of the government should not only be understood as a police action, but also as a broader political strategy.

Referring to the Anna Hazare movement of 2010-11, he said that at that time the UPA government gave utmost importance to the movement. The movement continued to gain prominence at the national level and the government became increasingly defensive. Nirupam claims that the same movement gave new strength to anti-corruption politics, due to which Congress had to suffer huge political losses in the future.

Center does not want protest movement to be formed

On this basis, he said that the present NDA government does not want to allow any such movement to drag on for a long time or give it a chance to become a national political center. According to him, the government believes that if a movement gets a political platform continuously, then it ceases to be just an issue but can take the form of an anti-incumbency campaign.

In his statement, Nirupam also gave the example of the recently held NEET UG re-examination. He said that the government honored the hard work of lakhs of students by conducting re-examination and did not allow a situation like paper leak to happen again. He also said that whatever is happening at Jantar Mantar has now taken a completely political nature. However, this is his personal political opinion.

After all, what is Sonam Wangchuk’s demand?

Sonam Wangchuk For a long time, demands have been raised for inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, environmental protection, protection of the rights of local people and more constitutional protection for the region. He had started a fast with these demands. After his health deteriorated, Delhi Police took him to the hospital on the instructions of the court.

Who is Sanjay Nirupam?

Sanjay Nirupam is a well-known face of Indian politics. He started his political career with Shiv Sena. Later he joined Congress and was also an MP. After leaving Congress, he again joined Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction). His statement is being given special importance in political circles due to his close observation of the politics of both Congress and BJP eras.

Has the government learned from the Anna movement?

This question is a matter of political analysis. The government has never officially said that its strategy is influenced by the Anna movement of 2011. But political analysts believe that after 2011, the central and state governments are more cautious about large public movements than before. On the other hand, the opposition alleges that the government is not providing enough political and public space for democratic protests.

That means Sanjay Nirupam’s statement is a political interpretation, and not the official policy of the government. In such a situation, the debate can continue further as to how to create a balance between democratic movements and law and order.