Why Sonam Wangchuk is on hunger strike
As Wangchuk's hunger strike entered its 20th day today (17 July), concerns over his health intensified
Indian education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi since 28 June, lending support to a student-led protest over alleged irregularities in India's National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET-UG, and other public examinations.
The protest, centred at Jantar Mantar, has continued for weeks despite extreme summer temperatures, with demonstrators demanding accountability over the alleged examination paper leak and broader reforms to India's examination system.
According to Indian media reports, as Wangchuk's hunger strike entered its 20th day today (17 July), concerns over his health intensified. Protest organisers said he has lost more than 9kg since beginning the hunger strike, while several Opposition leaders and public figures have appealed to him to end his fast.
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What are the protesters demanding?
The demonstration is being led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement calling for the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The group argues that the minister should take moral responsibility for the alleged irregularities surrounding NEET-UG.
Although the Indian government conducted a re-test for NEET-UG on 21 June, organisers say their campaign is no longer limited to a single examination.
According to The New York Times, the organisers are seeking greater transparency, stronger safeguards against paper leaks and wider reforms to the country's examination system.
The sit-in began on 20 June and has since attracted students, young professionals and activists, with volunteers continuing to support those camped at the protest site.
Why did Sonam Wangchuk join the protest?
Wangchuk joined the protest on 28 June and began an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the demonstrators.
Speaking at the protest site, he said students deserve a transparent and accountable education system and called for reforms to restore public confidence in the examination process.
On Tuesday, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra urged Wangchuk to end his fast while reaffirming their support for the protesters' demands.
A day earlier, a group of public figures, including writer Arundhati Roy, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, and economist Jayati Ghosh, also appealed to Wangchuk and other protesters to call off their hunger strike.
How did the movement start?
The protest is organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, founded by Abhijeet Dipke. According to the organisers, the movement grew out of a satirical social media campaign inspired by a remark from Indian Chief Justice Surya Kant, who referred to people holding fake degrees as "cockroaches".
The campaign later evolved into a youth movement focused on examination reforms and accountability. The group has organised demonstrations in several Indian cities and has announced plans to march to parliament on 20 July.
