Wangchuk Fast Enters Day 20: To Lead Parliament March on Monday

New Delhi: Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday asserted that he would "stay alive till July 20 at any cost", even as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 20th day amid a warning from doctors that his prolonged fast has reached a critical stage.

The Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar over alleged examination irregularities entered its 28th day, with Wangchuk urging people to ensure a massive turnout for the outfit's proposed march to Parliament on July 20.

Addressing supporters at the protest site, Wangchuk acknowledged his weakening physical condition but said his resolve remained unshaken.

"I am weak from the outside but very strong inside. I am sure all of you are strong from the inside, and outside too. We need this energy for July 20, when we will take out a peaceful march to Parliament. We will go together and present our plea in the temple of democracy," he said.

"I will stay alive till July 20 at any cost. If you don't come and July 20 is not successful, I will come back as a ghost," he said in a lighter vein, drawing cheers from the gathering.

On Thursday, doctors attending to Wangchuk had warned that his condition had entered a critical stage due to the prolonged fast and that the next phase could be alarming, with the possibility of organ damage if the hunger strike continued.

Wangchuk, however, had refused to call off the fast, saying that ending it without any response from the government would send a wrong message. He maintained that the focus should now be on making the July 20 Parliament march a success.

The issue has also reached the Delhi High Court, which directed authorities to monitor Wangchuk's health daily and provide medical assistance if his condition deteriorates.

Meanwhile, the CPI(ML) Liberation-affiliated All India Students' Association (AISA) said the condition of its members Neha, Manish and Aameen, who are also on an indefinite hunger strike at a separate stage of the protest site, had reached "severe stages".

In a statement, AISA said Aameen was at risk of hypovolemic shock due to dehydration, Neha's random blood sugar level had fallen to a dangerous 49 mg/dL and Manish had lost more than 10 per cent of his body weight.

"However, students are determined to remain in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk until the government faces its crimes," the organisation said.

The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide over alleged examination irregularities. The outfit has called for a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the opening day of the Monsoon Session.

The CJP protest began on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike since.

Pawan Khera Meets Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar

Congress leader Pawan Khera on Friday met activist Sonam Wangchuk and other members of the Cockroach Janata Party protesting at Jantar Mantar here over alleged paper leaks, and expressed solidarity with them.The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has been holding a protest for over 25 days demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite fast since then.

The Congress has already urged Wangchuk to end his hunger fast and said they were concerned about his health.

The visit comes a day after former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav met Wangchuk and others at Jantar Mantar.

Yadav had urged the Centre to initiate dialogue with Wangchuk and address the demands raised by the CJP and accused the BJP-led Union government of remaining unmoved despite the ongoing hunger strike, and student deaths related to the alleged NEET paper leak.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal had on Thursday said the party has been making the demand for Pradhan's resignation for over a month.

"We share the anguish and outrage that Shri Wangchuk ji feels, especially due to the lack of accountability within the Modi Government - for the collapse of the examination system in particular.

"In view of his health condition, we appeal to Shri Wangchuk to end his fast. His concerns are our concerns and that of other Opposition parties as well. Rest assured, we will continue to confront the Modi government and demand the Education Minister's resignation," Venugopal had said on X.