Leaders from the Congress and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) went to the Kokruche Janta Party (CJP) protest site at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Friday, becoming the latest opposition figures to attend the agitation demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
](https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-img/img/2026/07/18/400x225/Sonam-Wangchuk-19_1784336524679_1784336539432_d11694a3-9b94-4bac-86f2-054501c92512.jpg "Congress Rajya Sabha member Pawan Khera with activist Sonam Wangchuk as he continues his indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).](Vipin Kumar / Hindustan Times)")
Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MP Supriya Sule met activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose hunger strike has entered its 20th day, and urged him to call off his fast.
“Dimple Yadav was here and Mamata Didi also supported the protest. We stand by Sonam Wangchuk’s demands and we will all fully support the protest on Monday. We will also raise the students’ issue in Parliament and seek justice,” Sule said.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also met Wangchuk. “In a democracy, peaceful protest is a constitutional right. When citizens fast to be heard, it is the government’s duty to listen – not to look away. This is Raj Dharma… However, this government has chosen indifference,” Khaira posted on X.
Opn leaders rally behind Wangchuk
These developments came a day after Congress general secretary KC Venugopal took to social media to show support and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal visited the protest site. Leaders of the Samajwadi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Trinamool Congress also extended support.
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In a statement, Congress member Kumari Silja said the Wangchuk strike symbolizes the concerns of millions of students and youth over frequent leakage of papers, flaws in the examination system and lack of accountability.
Addressing his supporters at the protest site, Wangchuk acknowledged his deteriorating physical condition but said his determination had not wavered.
He said: “I am weak on the outside but I am very strong on the inside. I am sure you are all strong on the inside, and on the outside as well. We need this energy on July 20, when we go out in a peaceful march to Parliament. We will go together and make our appeal in the temple of democracy.”
The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the authorities to regularly monitor Wangchuk’s health.
Bharatiya Janata Party calls on opposition to be ‘opportunistic’
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders said supporting the opposition was opportunistic. “Since social media support started growing in the last few days, opposition leaders are now joining in solidarity in a bid to resolve the situation. They are also trying to disrupt the Parliament sessions with one issue or the other, but they did not have anything strong enough this time. So, they will deal with this issue now,” said a BJP leader, requesting anonymity.
These developments come as the protests gain momentum on social media, with some movie stars, civil society figures and influencers endorsing it.
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“This has reached a stage where no opposition party wants to be seen on the wrong side of the popular student movement. The public conversation has shifted from mere examination leaks to accountability and insensitive attitude of the government. Once this happens, political parties naturally start reacting,” a senior Congress functionary said.
A second Congress leader admitted that the leadership had come under increasing pressure over questions about why Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had not personally visited the protest site.
“There has been a growing narrative questioning why Rahul ji has not gone when almost every other opposition leader has expressed solidarity. This perception must be addressed,” the second leader said.
Another opposition leader said the timing of the meeting was linked to the monsoon. “The monsoon starts on July 20 and education will be one of the first issues that the India bloc intends to raise. Leaders calling for a CJP protest should be seen as part of this political crowd and not an isolated event,” he said.
The CJP has already announced a march to Parliament on the opening day of the session. A senior AAP leader said Wangchuk’s deteriorating health had changed the landscape of the agitation. “Initially, this was seen as a student-led digital campaign. Once Sonam Wangchuk began his indefinite fast and his health became a national concern, the movement gained moral weight. This made it difficult for political parties to stay away,” the senior AAP leader said.
