India
oi-Prakash KL
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced the closure of 18 metro stations across central Delhi from 7.30 am on Saturday until further notice as authorities tighten security around the ongoing NEET-UG protest at Jantar Mantar.
In a post on X, the DMRC said the affected stations are Lok Kalyan Marg, Rajiv Chowk, Patel Chowk, Ramakrishna Ashram Marg, Barakhambha Road, Supreme Court, Seva Teerth, Janpath, Mandi House, Central Secretariat, ITO, Delhi Gate, Indraprastha, Khan Market, Jor Bagh, Shivaji Stadium, Jhandewalan and New Delhi.
DMRC closed 18 central Delhi metro stations from Saturday 7:30 am amid NEET-UG protests at Jantar Mantar, as activist Sonam Wangchuk explained ending his hunger strike due to severe health issues.
According to the DMRC, the interchange facilities are available at Rajiv Chowk, Mandi House and Central Secretariat. However, no interchange facility will be available at New Delhi station.
Train services on Airport Express Line shall only be available between Dhaula Kuan and Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25. This is fourth such day that the Delhi Metro has imposed such restrictions in the capital. “Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” it added.
The authorities have increased the security across the national capital as large gatherings are expected at the ongoing protests at NEET paper leak.
Meanwhile, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has shared a new video in which he has responded to the criticism over ending his hunger strike at the Medanta Hospital after meeting Union Minister JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. “After 26 days of hunger, do I need to prove my sincerity?” he asked.
He spoke about the impact of the hunger strike on his body. “Friends, I am making this video with a bit of sadness, a bit of surprise, and a mixture of grief and anger,” he stated. “Physically fighting, quarreling, carrying out another strike within a strike, lying down on the ground – using whatever strength I had left in me on the 20th or 22nd day, I had to forcefully push my way out,” Wangchuk added.
Wangchuk said the prolonged hunger strike had taken a severe toll on his health.
He added, “Muscles are gone, and irreversible damage to my organs and brain has reached almost the verge of happening,”
The Cockroach Janta Party launched the NEET and examination-related protests at Jantar Mantar on June 6. Their primary demand has been reforms in the education system to fix the leaks and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Ladakhi environmentalist and education activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstration at Jantar Mantar on June 28. He started an indefinite hunger strike and he was forcefully taken to hospital on July 18.
He continued the protest from hospital before calling it off after receiving assurances from the Centre on accountability in the examination system.
