NEW DELHI — Indian activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk has refused to end his indefinite hunger strike despite growing calls for him to do so despite pleas by the country’s largest opposition party and other well-wishers.The 59-year-old has been on a fast for the past 20 days, consuming nothing but salt and water, and has lost more than 9kg.”I’ve grown weak from the outside but I’m strong from within,” Wangchuk told the crowd gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where the activist has been protesting. His statement was met with cheers and applause.The activist has been protesting in support of an online satirical movement called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who are seeking educational reforms.On Friday, the official X account of CJP shared a short video of Wangchuk speaking to the crowds gathered in front of the dais on which he has been sitting in protest.Wangchuk looked noticeably frail and even though he spoke into a mic, his voice sounded feeble.He urged the crowd to participate in a protest march that has been organised by the CJP on Monday.”Together, we will march peacefully to the parliament and put forward our petitions at the altar of democracy,” he said.The activist then joked that if he died before the march, his “ghost would join the march”.The protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a key entrance exam for aspiring doctors was cancelled in early May following a paper leak. They say the minister must take moral responsibility and quit.Pradhan has dismissed CJP and its supporters as “the B-team of disruptive elements”. And the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not engaged with the protesters yet.But there have been growing pressure from the opposition and civil society leaders for the government to do so.A day after the opposition Congress party broke its silence on Wangchuk’s hunger strike demanding Pradhan’s resignation, senior leader Pawan Khera visited him on Friday and accused the “insensitive” central government of not understanding the language of democratic protest.The Congress on Thursday urged activist Wangchuk to end his hunger strike in Delhi.“We share the anguish and outrage that Shri Wangchuk ji feels, especially due to the lack of accountability within the Modi government – for the collapse of the examination system in particular,” KC Venugopal, the party’s organization secretary. said on social media.The Congress leader said in view of Wangchuk’s health condition, the party was appealing to him to end his fast. “His concerns are our concerns and that of other Opposition parties as well,” Venugopal said. “Rest assured, we will continue to confront the Modi government and demand the education minister’s resignation.”This was the first comment about Wangchuk’s protest by the largest Opposition party, which, along with its allies, has separately been demanding Pradhan’s resignation.On Thursday, former Delhi chief minister and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal visited Wangchuk.In a video shared by CJP, Kejriwal is seen greeting the activist with folded hands before shaking his hand. He appealed to the government to engage with the protesters.”Every year, exam papers get leaked and youth pay the price,” he said. “I appeal to the government to listen to students and Wangchuk.”He added that “Pradhan should be removed from his post and replaced by Wangchuk”.Several Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena have extended support to Wangchuk, demanding that the center engage with him and sack Pradhan.Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and leader of the National Conference party Omar Abdullah said that “politics has its place, but there must also be a room for humanity and compassion”.He recalled the time when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government sent ministers to engage with Anna Hazare, an anti-corruption campaigner, who went on a hunger strike in Delhi in 2011.”But no attempt has been made so far to initiate a dialogue with Mr Wangchuk,” Abdullah said, adding that the activist’s demands were “legitimate”.The Delhi High Court, hearing a petition on Thursday, asked the government to urgently intervene and ordered it to monitor Wangchuck’s health regularly and provide necessary treatment if needed.The Times of India newspaper reported that the federal health ministry has directed three government hospitals to examine the activist twice each day.NEW DELHI — Indian activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk has refused to end his indefinite hunger strike despite growing calls for him to do so despite pleas by the country’s largest opposition party and other well-wishers.The 59-year-old has been on a fast for the past 20 days, consuming nothing but salt and water, and has lost more than 9kg.”I’ve grown weak from the outside but I’m strong from within,” Wangchuk told the crowd gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, where the activist has been protesting. His statement was met with cheers and applause.The activist has been protesting in support of an online satirical movement called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who are seeking educational reforms.On Friday, the official X account of CJP shared a short video of Wangchuk speaking to the crowds gathered in front of the dais on which he has been sitting in protest.Wangchuk looked noticeably frail and even though he spoke into a mic, his voice sounded feeble.He urged the crowd to participate in a protest march that has been organised by the CJP on Monday.”Together, we will march peacefully to the parliament and put forward our petitions at the altar of democracy,” he said.The activist then joked that if he died before the march, his “ghost would join the march”.The protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan after a key entrance exam for aspiring doctors was cancelled in early May following a paper leak. They say the minister must take moral responsibility and quit.Pradhan has dismissed CJP and its supporters as “the B-team of disruptive elements”. And the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not engaged with the protesters yet.But there have been growing pressure from the opposition and civil society leaders for the government to do so.A day after the opposition Congress party broke its silence on Wangchuk’s hunger strike demanding Pradhan’s resignation, senior leader Pawan Khera visited him on Friday and accused the “insensitive” central government of not understanding the language of democratic protest.The Congress on Thursday urged activist Wangchuk to end his hunger strike in Delhi.“We share the anguish and outrage that Shri Wangchuk ji feels, especially due to the lack of accountability within the Modi government – for the collapse of the examination system in particular,” KC Venugopal, the party’s organization secretary. said on social media.The Congress leader said in view of Wangchuk’s health condition, the party was appealing to him to end his fast. “His concerns are our concerns and that of other Opposition parties as well,” Venugopal said. “Rest assured, we will continue to confront the Modi government and demand the education minister’s resignation.”This was the first comment about Wangchuk’s protest by the largest Opposition party, which, along with its allies, has separately been demanding Pradhan’s resignation.On Thursday, former Delhi chief minister and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal visited Wangchuk.In a video shared by CJP, Kejriwal is seen greeting the activist with folded hands before shaking his hand. He appealed to the government to engage with the protesters.”Every year, exam papers get leaked and youth pay the price,” he said. “I appeal to the government to listen to students and Wangchuk.”He added that “Pradhan should be removed from his post and replaced by Wangchuk”.Several Opposition parties, including the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena have extended support to Wangchuk, demanding that the center engage with him and sack Pradhan.Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and leader of the National Conference party Omar Abdullah said that “politics has its place, but there must also be a room for humanity and compassion”.He recalled the time when the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government sent ministers to engage with Anna Hazare, an anti-corruption campaigner, who went on a hunger strike in Delhi in 2011.”But no attempt has been made so far to initiate a dialogue with Mr Wangchuk,” Abdullah said, adding that the activist’s demands were “legitimate”.The Delhi High Court, hearing a petition on Thursday, asked the government to urgently intervene and ordered it to monitor Wangchuck’s health regularly and provide necessary treatment if needed.The Times of India newspaper reported that the federal health ministry has directed three government hospitals to examine the activist twice each day.
