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New Delhi, July 15: Environmentalist and education activist Sonam Wangchuk completed the 18th day of his indefinite hunger strike on Wednesday, demanding the resignation of India’s Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical and dental admissions.
According to Wangchuk’s organisation, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), he remains in an “extremely weak” condition and is under round-the-clock medical supervision.
The Hindu reported that Wangchuk has been fasting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi as part of the CJP’s protest campaign. The group’s founder, Abhijit Dipke, accused the government of showing “cruelty” by refusing to engage in dialogue with the protesters.
According to a medical bulletin released by the CJP, Wangchuk’s weight has dropped to 57.15 kg, down by 400 grams over the past 24 hours and by a total of 8.9 kg since the hunger strike began.
His blood pressure was recorded at 105/76 mmHg, blood glucose at 80 mg/dL, and oxygen saturation at 97%. Doctors said his hydration level remains stable, and although he is conscious and mentally alert, his condition requires close monitoring.
In a post on X, Dipke wrote that Wangchuk had risked his life while seeking justice for students allegedly driven to suicide and criticised the government’s silence.
He questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not initiated talks with the protesters and why Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had not been held accountable.
“Instead of asking why opposition leaders or every CJP member has not joined the fast, ask the real questions: Why is the Prime Minister refusing to engage in dialogue? Why has the education minister not been held accountable?” Dipke wrote.
The CJP has announced a one-day mass hunger strike on July 16 in solidarity with Wangchuk and renewed its call for people to join the “Chalo Parliament” march on July 20.
The organisation’s demands include a transparent examination system, accountability for repeated examination paper leaks and the removal of the education minister.
Meanwhile, leaders of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) — Neha, Manish and Ameen — continued their separate hunger strike despite deteriorating health, the organisation said.
A delegation comprising academics Nivedita Menon, Aditya Nigam, Anuradha Chenoy and Radha Kumar also visited the fasting students to express solidarity.
Support for the movement has also come from Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj, MLA Atul Pradhan and MLC Maan Singh Yadav, who urged people to participate in the July 20 march to Parliament.
On Tuesday, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal appealed to Wangchuk to end his hunger strike.
Actor Zeenat Aman also urged the government to open talks with Wangchuk, while former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela and actor Swara Bhasker visited the protest site at Jantar Mantar to express their support.
The CJP also thanked Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for backing the movement. Dipke urged supporters to change their social media profile pictures in solidarity with Wangchuk.
According to the organisation, more than 130,000 people have registered through its missed-call campaign in support of the July 20 “Chalo Parliament” march.
