Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday shared the conditions under which he would end his ongoing fast, ahead of the proposed ‘Sansad Chalo’ rally, with his list not mentioning any demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a social media post titled “When will I end the fast…!”, Wangchuk said that despite concerns about his health, he would continue his fast until after the parliamentary march and would only end it under specific circumstances.
In a handwritten letter, Wangchuk said he would end his fast on July 20 if any of the following conditions were met:
- The government takes responsibility for “recent failures in the education system”, including question paper leaks.
- He and the leadership of the Sarsour Janta Party (CJP) managed to reach Parliament, where MPs and leaders from various political parties assured them that the issues they raised would be taken up in Parliament.
- If his health condition or other circumstances prevent him from participating in the march, representatives and leaders from various parties will visit him in the hospital and provide the same reassurances.
Wangchuk concluded the letter by saying that his “freedom of movement, expression and all communications are restricted by his unlawful detention.”
Meanwhile, three AISA activists, Neha, Manish and Amin, ended their 23-day hunger strike earlier today following an appeal by a delegation comprising parliamentarians, civil society members and prominent figures, who urged them to shift the struggle from the hunger strike to Parliament and public campaigning while assuring them that their demands would be pursued during the monsoon session.
The CJP is demanding accountability for alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the examination system, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
While Pradhan’s resignation has remained a key demand throughout the protest and Wangchuk hunger strike so far, there has been no mention of the climate activist’s demands to end the fast.
The Sansad Chalo procession coincides with the opening day of the monsoon session of Parliament.
Read also: CJP protest: 3 students on hunger strike with Sonam Wangchuk quickly ends indefinitely
Parliament updates
Thousands of protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar on Monday morning despite heavy rains and unprecedented security arrangements in central Delhi, as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued its proposed ‘Sansad Chalo’ march to demand accountability over alleged examination irregularities.
Delhi Police closed several roads leading to Parliament, surrounded the Jantar Mantar protest site from all sides and imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Act, while Janpath, Patel Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat and Seva Tirth metro stations remained closed as part of security measures.
