NEW DELHI: “I’m not in good shape but not so bad either,” said a frail-looking Sonam Wangchuk in a late-night video message as his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered its 19th day on Thursday. Wangchuk is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
According to the latest medical bulletin released by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), the 59-year-old activist is “very weak” and remains under 24-hour medical vigilance. His weight has dropped to 57.15 kg, marking a loss of 400 grams in the last 24 hours and a total reduction of nearly 8.9 kg since the fast began.
Doctors monitoring him stated that his blood pressure was recorded at 105/76 mmHg, blood sugar at 80 mg/dL, and oxygen saturation at 97%. While he remains conscious and mentally alert, medical professionals emphasized the need for continuous monitoring.
In his video address, Wangchuk appealed to his supporters to redirect their efforts toward the upcoming demonstration. “Rather than asking me to break my fast, please join me on 20th July… Peaceful March to the Parliament,” he said, rallying participation for the planned “Chalo Sansad” march.
I’m Not in good shape but not so bad either…
Rather than asking me to break my fast please join me on 20th July… Peaceful March to the Parliament.#cockroachjanataparty #jantarmantar #cjpprotest #chalosansad pic.twitter.com/QZ6VyxVMARAlso Read— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 15, 2026
A ground assessment at the Jantar Mantar protest site revealed that Wangchuk is joined by several others, including members of various student organizations who are also on hunger strike. At a separate stage, All India Students’ Association (AISA) leaders Neha, Manish, and Aameen continued their fast despite deteriorating health. According to AISA, Neha has lost 5.85 kg, while Manish and Aameen have lost 8.2 kg and 8.3 kg, respectively, with all three recording low blood sugar levels.
The student outfit added that JNUSU joint secretary Danish, JNU Barak Hostel president Hrishikesh, and Delhi University student leader Deepak had to be hospitalised after their health conditions worsened during the protest.
Political Leaders and Activists Urge End to Fast
The ongoing protest has drawn significant political attention. On Wednesday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor made an emotional appeal to Wangchuk through an open letter, asking him to end his fast. “You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do. India needs your voice for the long road ahead,” Tharoor wrote, suggesting that the fight for students’ issues should now move to Parliament.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also urged Wangchuk to call off his strike. Actor Zeenat Aman appealed to the government to initiate a dialogue with the protesters, while former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela and actor Swara Bhaskar visited Jantar Mantar to express solidarity.
Concurrently, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking urgent medical intervention for Wangchuk. The plea urges the Centre and the Delhi government to shift him to a hospital and provide necessary medical treatment, including force-feeding if required, due to his falling health parameters.
Additionally, an open letter signed by more than 1,800 artistes, academics, writers, and social activists was issued on Monday. The signatories—including actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, writer Arundhati Roy, economist Jean Drèze, and academics Jayati Ghosh, Nivedita Menon, and Anuradha Chenoy—expressed full support for the demand targeting Pradhan’s resignation but urged the protesters to preserve their strength for a “longer and more difficult struggle.”
Next Stop: Parliament
The protest was originally launched on June 19 by CJP, an online satirical collective led by its founder Abhijeet Dipke. The group holds the Union Education Minister accountable for the NEET irregularities, including the paper leak that led to widespread controversy and subsequent re-tests.
Stepping up its campaign, the CJP has announced a one-day mass hunger strike alongside the July 20 Parliament march. The group is demanding a transparent examination system, accountability for repeated paper leaks, and the immediate removal of the education minister. “Until the resignation happens, we’ll stand firm. 20 July, march to Parliament,” the organization stated in a post on X.
On Wednesday, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke criticized the central government’s response to the situation. “Day 18 of Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike. The man who chose to put his own life on the line to seek justice for students who died by suicide has received nothing but silence from the government. The government is not just unaccountable; it is also cruel,” Dipke said.
Questioning the administration further, Dipke added, “Instead of asking why opposition leaders haven’t supported CJP, or why every CJP team member isn’t on a hunger strike alongside Sonam sir, ask the questions that actually matter. Why is the Prime Minister refusing to engage in a dialogue? Why is the Education Minister still not being held accountable?”
The organizers have also requested supporters to change their social media display pictures in solidarity with Wangchuk. The CJP claimed that over 1.3 lakh citizens have registered their support for the upcoming Parliament march through its missed-call campaign.
