Sonam Wangchuk Urges Governments to Listen to Citizens' Voices Through Peaceful Protests

Noted environmental activist and academic Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday said protests are a great motivating mechanism for governments to work better. He cited the upheavals in Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and warned of dire consequences if citizens are not allowed to express dissent peacefully. At an event in Mumbai, Wangchuk said protests are allowed right in front of Parliament in countries like the UK, Norway and Sweden. On the contrary, protest sites in India are far away from Parliament, even Jantar Mantar. He described the protests as a "pressure valve" for the government. His remarks come amid the Cockroach Janata Party's call for protests at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanendra Kumar over alleged irregularities in the electoral rolls, and the subsequent central government crackdown. The opposition has also criticised the government for not allowing peaceful protests on the streets and the citizens'right to protest.