Why is Sonam Wangchuk's Hunger Strike at Jantar Mantar Making Headlines?

Sonam Wangchuk's Ongoing Hunger Strike Raises Concerns

In New Delhi, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has now reached the seventh day of his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has reported that he has lost five kilograms and is experiencing a rapid decline in health.

The CJP continues to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing alleged irregularities in examinations.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of CJP, expressed concern on social media about Wangchuk's deteriorating condition and questioned why Pradhan has not yet been dismissed.

Sonam Sir has lost 5 kg, and his health is deteriorating with each passing day. How much longer will the Prime Minister wait before sacking Dharmendra Pradhan?

Why is Dharmendra Pradhan so important to PM Modi that, despite the deaths of 20 students, he still refuses to remove… pic.twitter.com/Zf0YdzPh0H

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 4, 2026

Dipke reiterated the urgency of the situation, stating, "If the government does not take swift action against Pradhan, it will bear responsibility for any harm that comes to Sonam Sir. Despite his critical health, he remains resolute in continuing his hunger strike until action is taken."

He also shared a satirical cartoon illustrating a man trying to consume papers labeled 'Exam Paper' while being held back by two cockroaches, captioned: "Go back Dharmendra Pradhan."

On a positive note, Wangchuk acknowledged progress in discussions between the Centre and representatives from Ladakh regarding the region's demands. He urged the government to prioritize accountability in education.

"Thank you, government, for the steps taken today to resolve the Ladakh issue; now please focus on accountability in education," he stated.

These comments followed a resolution between the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) regarding previous meeting minutes, allowing for further negotiations on Ladakh's governance framework.

The leaders of both groups credited Wangchuk's hunger strike for breaking the deadlock with the Centre.

Meanwhile, six students from the All India Students' Association (AISA) are also participating in a hunger strike at a separate location in Jantar Mantar.

This protest, which has now lasted 15 days, has garnered support from various political figures and civil society members, including CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, CPI general secretary D Raja, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, social activist Yogendra Yadav, Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan, CPI leader Annie Raja, transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj, RTI activist Nikhil Dey, and TMC MPs Sagarika Ghose and Mahua Moitra.

The CJP's protest commenced on June 20, addressing irregularities in multiple examinations, including the NEET, which is the primary medical entrance exam.