印度活动人士索南·旺楚克近日在接受BBC采访时表示，由青年主导的近期抗议活动已严重削弱了印度总理莫迪的政权[1]。这波抗议源于考试泄题问题，导致教育部长普拉丹于7月25日辞职[1]。旺楚克本人曾于6月至7月间绝食26天以支持该运动，期间仅饮盐水并损失11公斤体重，目前已恢复其中6公斤[1]。
旺楚克指出，年轻一代现已增强信心推动变革[1]。他认为莫迪政府在应对经济和失业问题上存在深层缺陷，印度研究生失业率过去25年一直徘徊在35%至40%左右[1]。最近的政治挫折进一步印证了这一点——人民党本周在三场补选中失去两席，其中一席是该党在比哈尔邦持有30多年的议席[1]。旺楚克警告称，"如果政府不听人民的声音，他们可能会回到超越教育的抗议"[1]。
Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has asserted that recent youth-led protests have significantly undermined Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration.[1] Speaking to the BBC, Wangchuk attributed the demonstrations to an examination paper leak controversy, which prompted Education Minister Pradhan to resign on July 25.[1]
Wangchuk himself undertook a 26-day hunger strike between June and July in support of the movement, consuming only salt water during that period.[1] He lost 11 kilograms during the fast and has since recovered 6 kilograms of that weight.[1] According to Wangchuk, the youth have gained renewed confidence to push for change, and he contends that the Modi government faces fundamental challenges in addressing economic issues and unemployment.[1] Graduate unemployment in India has hovered around 35 to 40 percent over the past 25 years, underlining the scale of the problem.[1]
Political setbacks have accompanied the protests. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lost two of three by-election seats this week, including one in Bihar that the party had held for over three decades.[1] Wangchuk warned that if the government fails to heed public demands, demonstrations could expand beyond education-related grievances.[1]