Sonam Wangchuk Urged Student Leader Devendra Nath Mahto To Drink Water During His Indefinite Hunger Strike

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk urged student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since August 2 in Ranchi, to at least drink water on Wednesday amid escalating demonstrations against alleged irregularities in recruitment exams in Jharkhand.

Wangchuk stated that giving up water on top of a hunger strike is equivalent to suicide during a video conversation with Mahto, who is on strike at the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium.

On the third day of his fast, Mahto complied with Wangchuk’s request and drank water. Indeed, the student disclosed that he started an indefinite hunger strike on August 2 and sat on a “Satyagraha” on July 25.

Jivan Kumar, the spokesperson of the JPSC, JSSC Reforms Manch, said, “Our five friends, including two women, went on hunger strike from Tuesday night to press for our demands.”

While Devendra Nath Mahto was on a video call with Sonam Wangchuk and other demonstrators raised his head to help him and have a conversation on the video call. Mahto told Wangchuk “…We have been on Satyagraha since July 25. I sat on an indefinite hunger strike on August 2. I was extremely exhausted — it was a critical time. My mother is also tired of this protest. Papers have been leaking here (Jharkhand) for 26 years…Yesterday, the doctor warned that if I didn’t take water, I would have to be admitted to the hospital.”

The climate activist responded by asking Mahto to drink some water, claiming that “this is tantamount to suicide.” “You need some time, but it could 2-3 weeks as well, and I hope that the government will understand and make the right decision,” Wangchuk added.

Following his conversation with Wangchuk, Mahto informed reporters that he would only drink water and salt and that he would not eat anything until the Jharkhand government paid attention to the demonstrators.