Ongoing Protest at Jantar Mantar Demands Education Minister's Resignation

The protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, led by the Cockroach Public Party, continues for the 21st day, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Activist Sonam Wangchuk is on a hunger strike, now in its 13th day, advocating for accountability following tragic student suicides linked to exam controversies. Wangchuk emphasizes the importance of peaceful protest as a democratic right and warns against any administrative attempts to forcibly remove him. The movement aims to prevent future tragedies and restore youth trust in the government. As the protest persists, Wangchuk's health remains a concern, with significant weight loss reported since the start of his fast.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 10, 2026, 16:08 IST

Protest Continues Against Alleged Exam Irregularities

The demonstration by the Cockroach Public Party (Cozpa) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, protesting against alleged irregularities in examinations and calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, has now entered its 21st day. Supporting this movement, renowned educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is on an indefinite hunger strike, marking the 13th day of his fast today. In a conversation with reporters, he shared that his hunger has stabilized and he is feeling well.

Responding to inquiries about his health and the possibility of administrative intervention, Wangchuk clarified that he is present there by his own choice. He mentioned that the initial days of fasting can be challenging as the body needs to adjust, leading to some fatigue, but overall he feels fine. He emphasized that the administration lacks a valid reason to remove him from the protest site.

Wangchuk warned the authorities that expressing oneself peacefully is a democratic right. He stated that under Article 19 of the Constitution, they have the right to protest peacefully, and he hopes this right will be respected. He cautioned that any attempt by the administration to forcibly remove him would be a blatant violation of their rights, especially as the world is watching the state of democracy in their country.

He expressed concern over the suicides of students following the alleged controversies surrounding the NEET-UG medical entrance exam in May. Wangchuk highlighted that the primary goal of this movement is to ensure such tragic incidents do not recur in the future. He noted that 20 students have already taken their lives, and they are here to prevent that number from rising to 40 or 80 next year. He also mentioned that accepting the resignation of the education minister before the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament could help the government regain the trust of the youth.

According to Cozpa spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, since Sonam Wangchuk began his fast, he has lost approximately 7.5 kilograms, and his blood sugar levels have consistently remained low. It is important to note that this protest against alleged irregularities in examinations began on June 20.