Wangchuk has lost more than 8.4 kilograms since the hunger strike began.
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Indian educationist and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on a fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for 18 days. She and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, claiming responsibility for irregularities in various examinations, including NEET (UG) 2026.
CJP's protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 26th day on Wednesday. Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and has been on a fast unto death since then in support of the movement.
CJP founder Abhijeet Deepke has been providing daily updates on Wangchuk's health since the start of the fast. In an update released on Tuesday, Deepke said that Wangchuk's muscles have started to atrophy and that he is in severe pain. However, Deepke said that he is refusing to end the fast.
According to him, Wangchuk has lost more than 8.4 kilograms since the hunger strike began. In addition, his blood pressure has also been decreasing and has dropped to 109/70 as of Tuesday. On social media, Deepke wrote, 'His muscles are starting to atrophy and he is in extreme pain. I also asked others to break the hunger strike. He said in a calm voice, "Don't ask me to end the hunger strike. Ask why the government is not ready to talk.'
The CJP has demanded the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan and a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the families of students who committed suicide due to exam irregularities.
To create more pressure on the government, the CJP has announced to organize a 'Chalo Sansad' march on July 20, the beginning of the monsoon session of Parliament. It has also called on its supporters to register their participation through a 'missed call' campaign.
As the health situation continues to deteriorate, leaders of various parties and Bollywood stars have requested the government to end the hunger strike. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday expressed full support for the movement of CJP and Wangchuk and said that political parties should rise above party interests and support the movement.
'Today I announce my full support for the movement of CJP founders Abhijit Deepke and Sonam Wangchuk,' Thackeray said.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also spoke to Wangchuk on Tuesday over the phone He inquired about Wangchuk's health condition. He expressed his party's 'open support' for Wangchuk's satyagraha and urged him to postpone the fast for a few days keeping his health in mind.
Similarly, actress Alia Bhatt's mother Soni Razdan has also appealed to Wangchuk to end the fast through Instagram.
She wrote, 'Dear Sonam Wangchuk, we are all praying for your health. Please don't leave us like this. Stay alive to fight another day. Please end the fast today.'
Student activists are also on a fast
Not only Wangchuk in this movement, student activists participating in the ongoing movement led by the CJP are also on a fast unto death along with Wangchuk. Four of them are members of the All India Students Association (AISA).
Among them, a student named Deepak died on Monday due to excessive blood loss or loss of body fluids. He was admitted to the hospital after suffering from hypovolemic shock.
He was treated at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi. He was discharged on Tuesday after his health improved.
