CJP Protest: Sonam Wangchuk lost 8.2 kg fast in 16 days; ‘lives at stake’, says Dipke

AAP leader Atishi meets climate activist Sonam Wangchuk during a hunger strike by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) demanding action over alleged examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. | Photo Credit: Filed via PTI

A hunger strike at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has entered its 16th day, with an All India Students’ Association (AISA) student hospitalized for hypovolemic shock, the student body affiliated to the Liberation Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) said in a statement. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who fasted on stage, lost 8.25 kg, the Cockroach Janta Party said.

The hunger strike by Mr. Wangchuk and some students dragged on amid government silence. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke expressed frustration at how the protest was ignored by the national news media. “The silence of the mainstream media on Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike will never be forgiven,” Mr Dipke said in X. Saurav Das, the CJP spokesperson, lamented: “We have let you down by allowing the nation to reach a point where a person of your integrity and stature has to gamble with his own life just so that those in power LISTEN.”

The lack of meaningful protest amplification was evident at the venue, which only gathered a crowd reaching a fraction of the number that occupied the venue on the first day. Mr Dipke also complained of interference by the police, who were seen on footage trying to stop protesters from setting up tarps to protect them from the rain.

Loan support

A number of sympathetic voices urged Mr Wangchuk to end his fast, including Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhava Thackeray and DMK MP Kanimozhi.

“Mr Wangchuk has lost 8.25 kg, his blood sugar has repeatedly dropped below 70 mg/dL (normal fasting levels are around 100 mg/dL) and he experiences constant dizziness, severe muscle wasting and visible weakness, with his ribcage now clearly visible,” the CJP said. “Despite his condition… the Union government has not sent a single representative to initiate dialogue.”

Mr. Pradhan and the government largely rejected or ignored his call for resignation, and no representative was sent to the protest site to engage with the protesters.

“Student after student are risking their lives and being hospitalised, but neither Dharmendra Pradhan nor the government has shown a single positive response,” AISA said in a statement.

Published – 13 Jul 2026 17:04 IST