Activist Sonam Wangchuk called for mass participation in a planned march to Parliament on July 20, 2024 [1].
The call to action frames the protest as a critical struggle for justice, elevating a movement that began over exam-reform demands into a broader national cause.
Wangchuk issued the message from Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, where he has been detained [1]. He said the upcoming "Sansad Chalo" march is "India's second freedom movement" [1]. The message was shared through his wife to reach supporters and the general public [2].
Protesters have been gathering at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to support the cause [3]. Wangchuk urged a massive turnout for the march toward the Parliament, known as the Sansad [3]. The movement seeks to mobilize public support against perceived injustices [2].
However, the planned demonstration faces opposition from local authorities. Senior Delhi Police officers said the proposed march would not be allowed because it could disrupt law and order in one of the capital's most sensitive security zones [3].
While supporters continue to plan the event, the police refusal to grant a permit creates a tension between the right to protest and state security requirements [3]. Wangchuk's detention at the hospital has been described by some sources as an illegal detention [3].
“"India's second freedom movement"”
The framing of the protest as a 'second freedom movement' signals an attempt to shift the narrative from specific policy grievances to a fundamental struggle for civil liberties. By calling for a march on the Parliament while under hospital detention, Wangchuk is leveraging his personal situation to highlight state restrictions on dissent, potentially increasing the movement's visibility and emotional resonance with the public.
