New Delhi: Social activist Sonam Wangchuk has completed 16 days of an indefinite hunger strike, with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) stepping up its appeal to the Central government and expressing growing concern over his health as the protest continues.
Addressing the media, CJP leaders urged the Centre to engage with the issues raised by the activist and the party, saying Wangchuk’s physical condition was deteriorating with each passing day. The party appealed for timely intervention to prevent the situation from worsening further.
CJP spokesperson Saurav Das described the situation as increasingly alarming and issued what he called an “SOS to every Indian”. He said those accompanying Wangchuk during the protest were deeply concerned about his health, despite the activist’s assurance that he remained determined to continue the fast.
Das described Wangchuk, a Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, as someone who had chosen to risk his own well-being to seek accountability in the country’s education system. According to Das, the protest seeks justice for students whom the party alleges lost their lives due to examination-related irregularities and systemic shortcomings in the education system.
The party questioned why, in its view, Wangchuk had been compelled to undertake an indefinite hunger strike to draw attention to these concerns and urged the government to initiate meaningful dialogue.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also appealed to the Centre, saying the matter should not become “a battle of egos”. He argued that acknowledging mistakes, if any, would reflect accountability and a commitment to addressing public concerns.
Among its key demands, the CJP has called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and sought ₹1 crore in compensation for the families of students whom the party claims died by suicide following alleged examination irregularities. These allegations have not been independently verified.
The party has also announced a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the commencement of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. According to the CJP, its protest began on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike since then.
There has been no immediate official response from the Central government regarding the latest appeal or the demands raised by the CJP. The protest continues amid calls from the party for dialogue and action on the issues it has highlighted.
