Sonam Wangchuk is not alone, student activists are running a parallel hunger strike in Jantar Mantar

Social activist Sonam Wangchuk has begun an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the education system. His health was a cause for concern as the ongoing Janta Cockroach protests completed 25 days, with the Wangchuk hunger strike under its umbrella entering its 17th day on Tuesday.

Wangchuk was not the only one to go on a hunger strike during the protest led by the political satirical group CJP, founded by political communications strategist Abhijit Debke.

Student activists also went on a parallel hunger strike for the same period. At least four of them belong to the All India Students Association (AISA). One of them had to be hospitalized Monday due to hypovolemic shock, an emergency caused by severe blood or fluid loss that can affect the heart. Identified as Deepak, he was discharged from Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Tuesday.

According to a statement issued by AISA, Deepak’s heartbeat fluctuated while he was under observation, after which doctors conducted medical tests. The electrocardiogram was normal, and his pulse rate stabilized before discharge.

The organization said its remaining striking activists – national president Neha Bora, along with members Manish and Amin – continued their indefinite fast at a separate stage at the Jantar Mantar protest site.

“For every one of us you send to the hospital, our resolve to see Dharmendra Pradhan fall grows stronger,” Neha Bora said.

The CJP protests began on June 20, and were joined from the beginning by various student organizations, including AISA.

Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite hunger strike since then along with activists of the Isa Society, affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)-Liberation.

Since the protest began largely as an apolitical protest against Under the Narendra Modi regime, the political outfit has established a separate phase.

According to the health bulletin issued by the authority, Wangchuk lost 8.5 kg of weight since the beginning of fasting, and his blood pressure was recorded at 109/70 mm Hg.

Wangchuk is now losing muscle mass, CJP founder Abhijit Debaki said. “Like everyone else, I begged him to end his fast,” Debaki said in a post on the

“At a time like this, every voice standing for dialogue and democracy matters. I sincerely thank Mr. Arvind for extending his support to the CJP protest and for our march to Parliament on July 20,” he said.

In another post, Debke shared that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray also spoke to him and expressed concern over the rapid deterioration of Wangchuk’s health.

Thackeray appealed to Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, saying his safety was of paramount importance, and expressed support for the CJP’s proposed march to Parliament on July 20, Debke said.

Chief of Shiv Sena (UBT). He also said on Monday that he would ask Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, to visit the protest site.

The group also intensified preparations for the proposed ‘Chalo Sansad’ rally on July 20, the opening day of the monsoon session, and urged supporters to register their participation through a missed call campaign.