Today (Tuesday, July 14) marks the 17th day of the Wangchuk hunger strike and the 25th day of the CJP’s protest against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Calls for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to call off his indefinite hunger strike grew on Tuesday, as Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Debaki shared an update on his health condition. Dipke Wangchuk said heading to X He began to lose muscle mass and experience severe pain.
The CJP founder said Wangchuk lost 8.5 kg of weight and his blood pressure reached 109/70.
Debke shared a short conversation he had with Wangchuk where he urged him to call off his hunger strike.
“He started losing muscle mass and was experiencing severe pain. Like everyone else, I begged him to end his fast. He replied calmly: ‘Don’t ask me to end my fast. Ask the government why there is no dialogue.”
Today (Tuesday, July 14) marks the 17th day of the Wangchuk hunger strike and the 25th day of the CJP’s protest against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
I lost more than 8 kilos
Debke said on Monday (day 16 of the strike). Wangchuk’s blood pressure was 107/70 mm Hg and his total weight loss since the beginning of the hunger strike reached 8.2 kg.
“Total weight loss – 8.2 kg, blood glucose level – 67, blood pressure – 107/70,” the CJP founder shared on X.
He also asked the government not to turn the protest into a “battle of egos” because human lives are at stake. He added that the protest only demands accountability.
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“I ask the government not to turn this into a battle of egos because human lives are at stake here. Admitting a mistake is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of maturity, accountability and a desire to correct course.”
Leaders step up in support
Wangchuk and the CJP received support from leaders from across the political spectrum. TMC leader Mahua Moitra also urged the climate leader to call off his hunger strike and continue the protest.
“Mr Sonam, your fast has united the youth of this country in their fight for justice. Your goal has been reached. The government does not care about your life or the lives of millions of young people. But your life matters to us. Please quickly rescind the order and continue fighting.”
An AAP delegation led by former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi also visited the protest site on Monday and expressed solidarity with the agitation.
Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray also extended his support For the outfit and its reason. In a post on X, Thackeray said: “We, on behalf of the Shiv Sena, hereby declare our support for the movement of Sonam Wangchuk and Abhijit Debki.” However, Wangchuk also appealed to withdraw his hunger strike.
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.
the The CJP launched its protest on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite hunger strike since then.
The group demanded the resignation of Pradhan W $1 crore compensation to the families of students who allegedly died by suicide due to alleged examination irregularities. She also announced a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, the first day of the monsoon.
Karishma Ayaldasani is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, where she works with the digital team on fast-moving breaking stories from India and around the world. She enjoys covering national and global news, with an emphasis on providing updates quickly and clearly so readers can understand what’s happening as it unfolds. She is comfortable in high-pressure newsroom settings, and regularly contributes live blogs, explainers and real-time coverage. Before joining Hindustan Times, she was part of the digital team at The Indian Express, worked with the social media team at Firstpost, and spent time as a creative strategist at Clematis Advertising. Outside of work, she loves exploring different art forms and relaxing with music. With more than three years of experience in fast-paced newsrooms, she brings curiosity, clarity and consistency to her work.Read more
