Sonam Wangchuk Refuses To End Fast As Indefinite Hunger Strike Enters Day 17

Activist Sonam Wangchuk entered the 17th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak ( by PTI)

In an interview with The Indian Express, Wangchuk said the Prime Minister should be sensitive to students’ concerns, and called for the issue to be debated in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament ( by PTI)

According to the health bulletin issued by the outfit, Wangchuk has lost 8.5 kg since beginning the fast, and his blood pressure was recorded at 109/70 mm Hg ( by PTI)

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said Wangchuk has been losing muscle mass and was in "immense pain ( by PTI)

Dipke said he urged Wangchuk to end the fast, but Wangchuk insisted the government should initiate dialogue instead of asking him to call off the protest ( by PTI)

Dipke further said that Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal telephoned him to enquire about Wangchuk's health and expressed deep concern over his condition ( by PTI)

Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, addressing a press conference in New Delhi, said he and his party support the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest and its demands, and that he will visit the protest site on July 16 ( by PTI)

In a post on X, Dipke shared that Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had also spoken to him and expressed concern over Wangchuk's rapidly deteriorating health ( by PTI)

The CJP has been demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who died by suicide over alleged examination irregularities ( by PTI)

The outfit has also intensified preparations for its proposed "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session, and urged supporters to register their participation through its missed-call campaign ( by PTI)