NEW DELHI, Jul 4: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered its seventh day on Saturday, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) claiming that his health has worsened significantly and pressing the Centre to act against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in national examinations.
As the broader agitation against exam related lapses completed 15 days, the CJP alleged that Wangchuk had lost nearly five kilograms since beginning the fast and accused the government of ignoring the seriousness of his condition. The outfit said the activist remained firm on continuing the protest until action was taken against Pradhan.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke intensified his criticism of the Centre, saying Wangchuk’s health was deteriorating with every passing day and questioning why the Education Minister had not yet been removed despite mounting public outrage over the alleged examination scandal.
In a post on X, Dipke said Wangchuk’s weight loss and declining condition should have already prompted immediate action from the government. He questioned how long Prime Minister Narendra Modi would wait before taking a decision on Pradhan and alleged that the Centre was showing indifference even as the protest escalated.
He also referred to the deaths of 20 students while attacking the Union government and asked why Pradhan continued to remain in office despite the controversy surrounding examination management and alleged irregularities.
In another post, Dipke warned that if anything happened to Wangchuk during the course of the hunger strike, the responsibility would lie with the government. He said the activist had made it clear that he would not call off the fast unless action was taken against the Education Minister, and accused the Centre of failing to respond to a rapidly worsening humanitarian and political situation at the protest site.
The CJP also used social media to sharpen its campaign against Pradhan. Dipke shared a satirical cartoon targeting the minister, as the party attempted to build public pressure around its demand for accountability in the handling of exam-related controversies.
Wangchuk, however, struck a broader political note late on Friday night by acknowledging progress in talks between the Centre and Ladakh-based representatives over the region’s long-pending demands. In a message posted on X, he thanked the government for taking steps to move the Ladakh dialogue forward, but urged it to now focus equally on accountability in the education sector.
His remarks came after representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) announced that differences with the Ministry of Home Affairs over the minutes of an earlier meeting had been resolved, clearing the way for the next phase of formal talks on Ladakh’s governance-related demands.
Leaders associated with the two Ladakh-based bodies also credited Wangchuk’s fast with helping break the deadlock in discussions with the Centre, suggesting that the protest had created fresh urgency around issues linked to Ladakh as well as the broader accountability campaign being pursued at Jantar Mantar.
Even as Wangchuk’s hunger strike continued, another group of students associated with the All India Students’ Association (AISA) remained on a parallel fast at a separate stage at the protest venue. Their participation added to the pressure on the government, with student activists and opposition leaders using the demonstration to highlight concerns over the integrity of major national examinations, including NEET.
The ongoing agitation, which began on June 20, has steadily expanded into a larger political campaign over alleged irregularities in entrance examinations and demands for ministerial accountability. What started as a protest over exam-related concerns has now evolved into a wider opposition-backed mobilisation, drawing support from political leaders, student groups, civil society activists and public intellectuals.
Several prominent leaders and activists have extended support to the protest in recent days. Among those who have backed the stir are CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby, senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, CPI general secretary D Raja, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, social activist Yogendra Yadav, advocate Prashant Bhushan, CPI leader Annie Raja, transparency activist Anjali Bhardwaj, RTI activist Nikhil Dey and Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose.
The CJP has sought to frame the agitation as a fight for justice for students and families affected by alleged lapses in the examination system. The party has repeatedly accused the Centre of failing to ensure transparency and accountability in the conduct of competitive exams, while also attacking the Education Ministry for not taking moral responsibility amid public anger.
Wangchuk’s involvement has given the protest a sharper national profile. Known widely for his activism on climate issues, sustainable development and Ladakh’s political concerns, he has emerged as the face of the current hunger strike, lending moral weight and visibility to the campaign. His deteriorating health has now become one of the central issues around the protest, with supporters portraying the fast as a symbol of resistance against administrative apathy.
The developments at Jantar Mantar come at a politically sensitive time for the Union government, which has faced sustained criticism from opposition parties over exam controversies and student distress. With the protest gathering attention across social media and drawing a stream of public figures to the venue, pressure is likely to mount further if Wangchuk’s condition worsens or if the government continues to avoid a direct response to the CJP’s demands.
For now, the protest remains at an impasse. Wangchuk has not indicated any willingness to withdraw his fast without concrete action, while the CJP has sharpened its rhetoric and widened its attack on the Centre. With student groups continuing parallel demonstrations and opposition voices rallying behind the agitation, the hunger strike at Jantar Mantar is increasingly turning into a larger flashpoint over educational accountability, political responsibility and public trust in India’s examination system.