Teacher and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has lost 8.2 kg since he began his indefinite hunger strike in Jantar Mantar, and his blood sugar level has dropped to 67 mg/dL, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said on Monday, with its founder Abhijit Debke urging the Center to meet the demands of protesters as “lives are at stake”.
As Wangchuk’s indefinite fast entered the sixteenth day, his health deteriorated further. According to the health update shared by CJP, Wangchuk’s blood pressure was recorded at 107/70 mmHg. His total weight loss since the beginning of the hunger strike reached 8.2 kg.
The CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar over alleged examination irregularities entered its 24th day on Monday.
CJP founder Abhijit Debaki appealed to the Center not to turn the issue into a “battle of egos” and urged it to meet the demands of the protesters.
“Day 16 of the Wangchuk hunger strike. I ask the government not to turn this into a battle of egos because human lives are at stake here,” Debke said in a post on X.
He added, “Admitting a mistake is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of maturity, accountability, and a desire to correct course. All we ask for is accountability.”
On the day, an AAP delegation led by former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi visited the protest site and expressed solidarity with the agitation, according to the CJP.
CPI(M) MP Amra Ram, along with senior CPI(M) leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, also visited the protest site and supported the demands. The visiting leaders also expressed their support for the proposed peaceful march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on July 20.
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According to the CJP, the AAP delegation reiterated its support to the movement, demanding a transparent, fair and credible examination system and supporting the demand for resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Members of the All India Students Association (AISA) of the Communist Party of India (ML) – Neha, Manish, Deepak and Amin – continued their indefinite hunger strike in a separate phase at the protest site.
The association said in a statement that Atishi met with the students on hunger strike and expressed his concern about what it described as the state of democracy, as the students remained indefinitely fasting for weeks without any positive response from the government.
She also said that the health of the students on hunger strike had deteriorated further, but stressed that the protest would continue.
The CJP is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan $Rs 1 crore compensation to the families of students who allegedly died by suicide due to alleged examination irregularities. The group also announced a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the monsoon session.
The GPC protests began on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28, and has been on an indefinite hunger strike since then.
