The Demands Of 'Must Resingn' Turn To 'Consider Resignation': Is CJP Protest Falling? | India Today

[00:00:00]So, let me counter myself and ask you the other opinion then. Things have changed ever since Sonam Wangchuk was picked up. It's the brutal force that was seen on the streets uh through Monday, Tuesday, through both 20th and 21st of July, that has now become a talking point. Young people are angry, upset, just wild about the way the police came down on them. And so is the police because they also uh faced some, you know, brutality. There is always in a protest like this, there will always be casualties. There will always be people on both sides who will get hurt.

[00:00:37]That's just the nature of protests like these. So, if that is a rallying point now, is that the reason why the youth and the opposition now is saying there will not be a climb down from Sonam uh from Dharmendra Pradhan's uh resignation demand?

[00:00:54]>> Uh Sonam, you know, in fact, uh what opposition parties are trying to do is uh not only defend the students who might be facing uh legal action, specifically where there are footages available for Delhi police to carry forward uh uh the cases, but they are also asking for a probe against Delhi police officials who, as per them, uh you know, went beyond uh what uh could have been the brief and lathi charged.

[00:01:19]And in fact, I spoke to Mr. Pawan Khera this morning. He was saying, "Pellet guns were used." So, they want a full-fledged investigation into the action of Delhi police of 20th of July.

[00:01:28]Uh so, uh uh the rallying point in a way is also shifting. The BJP would also not want legal action to be initiated against uh uh the students. Sonam Wangchuk does not want that happen either. And the opposition is also asking for the same. But if you uh go on to uh the press conference of Rahul Gandhi which happened uh you know, sometime back only, again, he was showing through those visuals trying to establish as to what unfolded in the national capital on 20th of July. And uh again, the Congress party uh wants a probe against the Delhi police officials.

[00:02:00]But again, the question would be what happens to the police officials who were injured during handling of the protest as well. So, that is also a question because Delhi police is certainly making you know, claims and they have also shared their visuals of their personal getting you know, hurt during the handling of the protest. They have >> [music] >> vehicles being targeted. So, that is also one aspect of uh 20th July you know, episode and the movement that we saw unfold in the national capital around the parliament itself.

[00:02:33]>> [music] >> So, it's interesting as to how opposition re-strategizes themselves as far as the parliamentary proceedings >> Understanding then, Amit. Thanks so much for joining us. Let me cut across live now to Jantar Mantar where I have my colleague Sushant Sushant I have my colleague Sushant joining us. Sushant Mehra joining us from Jantar Mantar.

[00:03:35]Hello.

[00:03:38]Sushant, if you can hear me.

[00:03:43]All right. Understandably, at Jantar Mantar there are jammers and the line is not very good. So, we'll try and connect with Sushant in a bit from now. But let me give you a recap into how the past couple of days for Sonam Wangchuk have been. Now, remember today is day 25 of his fast, and he's still firm about continuing it.

[00:04:04]But what exactly is his health condition? Let me tell you about that. A panel of doctors is monitoring him. This is in accordance to what the High Court had asked for. Fresh blood work had been ordered yesterday, reports for which will be expected anytime now. And if they come back well, Sonam Wangchuk, who's currently in ICU number eight at Medanta Medicity in Gurugram, will be moved, I am told, to a private ward by today evening. Now, what are doctors really watching out for? Doctors are at the moment watching out closely at his potassium levels, at his sodium levels as well. These numbers will decide which way his health actually turns. So, what happens for you to get an understanding of when your body gets no food for 25 days?

[00:04:55]Okay, first it burns the stored sugar, then it turns to fat, burns that. But the brain still needs glucose, so the body starts breaking down muscle to make it, which is why prolonged fasting causes muscle loss, not just weight loss. And in an extreme condition, this can be extremely dangerous, even life-threatening. Alongside this, electrolytes fall. Sodium and potassium controls the heartbeat, remember, and your nervous system. A sharp drop in potassium can trigger irregular heartbeats, one of the biggest risks in long-term hunger strikes, which is why fluid intake becomes extremely important. IV becomes very important as well. But for now, in a medical bulletin that came just about half an hour ago today from Medanta, we are told that Wangchuk remains to be under watch, remains to be stable, remains alert.

[00:05:53]He's talking and the one of the doctors who was actually visiting him told me that he seems to be in good spirits.

[00:05:59][music] And even they are surprised at how a man his age after 25 days of fasting continues to have a resolve like this.

[00:06:08]>> [music] >> So, that's the latest coming in from Medanta.

[00:06:12]And remember, this is at a time when a lot has happened overnight. He actually moved to Medanta just yesterday evening.

[00:06:22]And late in the evening, at around 11:30 at night, is when he got two visitors.

[00:06:28]Two union ministers came to see him. It was J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh.

[00:06:33]Remember J.P. Nadda, the man who's been engaging with the youth. And Jitendra Singh, the man responsible and designated by the government to engage with the opposition. After having spoken to both those fronts, they actually went and met Wangchuk in response. Sonam Wangchuk has now released the letter of appeal as well. He has heightened his demand and in fact gone on to say that he wants those cases which have been put against the student protesters to be taken away. And a consideration of resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, along with the you know, a promise to work on it will make him break his fast, but nothing less.

[00:07:15]But as we talk about this, there is a possible breakthrough that may finally be emerging in the standoff between government and the CJP over the NEET paper leak protest.

[00:07:26]Sources are saying that a meeting between BJP president J.P. Nadda and CJP representatives is now on the cards. But the talks will take place not at Nadda's residence, at a neutral venue, which is being worked out and could be finalized shortly. Before the day ends, we are told there is a possibility of talks of round two of talks between the youth protesters, the representatives there being the Kok Janata Party spokesperson Abhijit and also Saurav Das. And then there is JP Nadda from the government side. The BJP says that the government reacted out again. In fact, they reached out to them, but they flatly refused any invitation to meet at Nadda's home insisting that the minister should instead come to Jantar Mantar. The protest group, however, agreed for a talks finally at a neutral location. But even as channels of communications open, the BJP is refusing to dilute the three key demands, the resignation of Union Minister, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, withdrawal of FIRs against protesters, and 1 crore rupee compensation for NEET-related suicide victims. What India today is learning at the moment is the government is happy to give compensation, but on resignation and withdrawal of FIRs, there is no clarity yet.