Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk will begin an indefinite hunger strike on June 28 if the government fails to meet at least one of two key demands related to education reforms and increased autonomy in Ladakh, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said on Thursday.
Wangchuk, who is currently in Geneva, released a video from the protest area outside the UN office at the Palais des Nations, describing it as the global equivalent of Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for peaceful demonstrations.
Standing near the famous Broken Chair monument, he said accountability in education and environmental governance remained his main demands. “I am currently in the Jantar Mantar area of Geneva, which is the area in front of the United Nations where full permission is given for demonstrations,” he said in a video posted on X.
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“Behind me is the UN office, and then the broken chair, which is a symbol of the struggle for rights and compensation where needed.”
“There are two demands,” he said. “One of them is the demands raised by the CJP (Cockroach Janta Party) regarding education and accountability. As you know, there are two issues that are very close to my heart: education and environment. In education, we demand accountability, and in Ladakh, to protect culture and environment and restore democracy, we seek the same accountability.”
Wangchuk said he would wait until June 27 to make progress on either case. If one demand, either reform of the education system or restoration of democratic and cultural protection in Ladakh, is addressed, he will withdraw the fasting plan. Otherwise, he said, he would join the protest at Jantar Mantar and begin an indefinite hunger strike from June 28.
“If accountability is not shown in even one of these cases, I will go on a hunger strike from Saturday night to Sunday. If accountability is accepted in even one case, I will not need to go on a hunger strike – at least one case must be resolved.” “I will meet you all on Sunday,” he said.
The CJP also shared the video.
CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar enters its sixth day
The announcement comes amid an ongoing protest in Delhi by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demonstrating at Jantar Mantar over irregularities in competitive exams, including concerns related to NEET-UG and CBSE.
The group demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging repeated failures in the examination system and lack of accountability. At least 17 students have reportedly died due to suicide due to the problem of NEET paper leakage.
Read also | CJP’s Abhijit Deepki criticizes Pradhan’s “terrorist” statements and says his hands are “stained with the blood of 17 students.”
The protesters also sent postcards to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and continued demonstrations around the clock, with slogans demanding reforms and justice for students.
The CJP campaign, now in its sixth day, has attracted support from various student and activist groups. Leader and founder Abhijit Debaki assured that they will continue the protest until their demands are met.
Wangchuk’s support for the CJP
Wangchuk has publicly supported the CJP movement. He appeared at the group’s first protest on June 6 and at several others since then. At a protest in Bengaluru, activist Prakash Raj also joined them.
Wangchuk reiterated his concerns about Ladakh’s governance, alleging that promises of greater autonomy, cultural protection and environmental safeguards had not been kept.
He previously warned that any crackdown on protest organizers could also lead to a long hunger strike. He said in previous statements that he is ready to fast for 42 days if necessary.
“If they are arrested tomorrow for any reason, I will be forced to take a step that I do not want to take,” Wangchuk said on June 5. “I will start an indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow itself, and this time it will last six weeks, or 42 days. I am willing to do that.”
Read also | Rahul Gandhi supports RJD? Congressman criticizes Pradhan’s remarks on ‘Team B terrorists’.
CJP’s X account blocked
Earlier, Dipke had challenged the group’s account ban on X under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. The account was blocked in India in May, leading to legal action in the Delhi High Court.
Debke said the government did not reveal specific reasons for the blocking, while officials cited confidentiality provisions. The matter is currently under review by a government committee constituted under IT ban rules, with the next hearing scheduled for July 7.
