Arvind Kejriwal, Rakesh Tikait to meet Sonam Wangchuk tomorrow
Kejriwal and farmer leader Rakesh Tikait are scheduled to visit the CJP protest site on Thursday, July 16, to meet Sonam Wangchuk, who is on the 18th day of his indefinite hunger strike demanding the removal of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike highlights: Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra joined the CJP protest on Wednesday, appearing on stage alongside the group's founder, Abhijeet Dipke. Photos shared by the CJP showed Kamra addressing supporters during the demonstration. Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait, via an X post, said that he will be visiting the protest site on July 16 to meet Sonam Wangchuk....Read More
Wangchuk's hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in entered day 18 on Wednesday as he and the CJP continue to demand the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2026 exam and other exams. For real-time updates on Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike, follow our comprehensive live coverage.
Separately, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor appealed to Wangchuk to end his ongoing hunger strike. Tharoor said that while Wangchuk's protest had drawn attention to the issue, India would need his voice and leadership in the challenges that lie ahead.
A petition has been filed before the Delhi high court, calling for Sonam Wangchuk to be taken to a hospital and ensure he receives the required medical treatment, including force-feeding.
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal will meet Wangchuk on Thursday (July 16), party MLA Sanjeev Jha said.
The protest by CJP at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi has entered its 25th day on Wednesday. Wangchuk, educationist and climate activist, joined the demonstration on June 28 and began an indefinite hunger strike at the site to support the CJP stir.
Sonam Wangchuk health update
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has been sharing daily updates on Wangchuk's health ever since the strike began.
In one such update on Tuesday, the CJP founder said that the activist has started to lose muscle mass and is in immense pain, but he still refuses to quit.
Dipke said that Wangchuk has lost more than 8.4kg in weight ever since his hunger strike began. He added that his blood pressure has been dropping and has fallen down to 109/70, as of Tuesday.
In a post on X, he wrote, “He has started losing muscle mass and is in immense pain. Like everyone else, I begged him to end his fast. He calmly replied, “Don’t ask me to end my fast. Ask the government why they won’t even have a dialogue.”
CJP's protest enters day 25, ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20
Cockroach Janta Party's protest entered day 25 on Wednesday, while Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike entered day 18.
The CJP has been demanding Pradhan’s resignation and ₹1 crore compensation for the families of the students who died by suicide over the alleged examination irregularities.
Intensifying its pressure on the government, the CJP has also announced a “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session of the Parliament, and urged supporters to register their participation through a missed-call campaign.
‘I am not Gandhi; be your own hero’: Wangchuk
In a video posted on X on Friday night, Wangchuk said he is "just an ordinary citizen", not a "modern Gandhi" or a hero and urged people to become the "heroes" of their own lives instead of looking for someone else to lead.
"Today, on the 13th day of my fast, I am not feeling as energetic as I was yesterday. I am feeling a little tired. It happens -- some days are better and some are not," he said.
Thanking people for supporting the movement on social media, Wangchuk said two kinds of comments left him disappointed.
"Many people call me the Gandhi of the 21st century or a modern Gandhi. Others call me a hero. These comments make me uncomfortable. I am neither Gandhi nor a hero. I am just an ordinary citizen who has tried to fulfil his responsibilities," he said.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 10:53:28 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: This blog is closed
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: There will be no further updates to this blog.
- 15 Jul 2026, 10:08:30 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Activist remains ‘very weak’, says doctors
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Sonam Wangchuk remains "very weak" and is under round-the-clock medical supervision.
His weight has dropped to 57.15 kg, down 400 grams in the past 24 hours and 8.9 kg since he began his indefinite hunger strike.
Doctors recorded his blood pressure at 105/76 mmHg, blood sugar at 80 mg/dL, oxygen saturation at 97 per cent, and said his hydration levels are fair.
While Wangchuk is conscious and mentally alert, doctors say he requires continuous medical monitoring. (PTI)
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- 15 Jul 2026, 09:32:30 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Bhim Army chief joins CJP protest
Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike LIVE: Bhim Army chief and Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) president Chandrashekhar Azad visited the CJP protest site at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to express solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 18 days.
- 15 Jul 2026, 08:46:32 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Cong MP says he will join CJP march to Parliament on July 20
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Congress MP Prashant Padole visited Jantar Mantar on Wednesday to meet the social activist Sonam Wangchuk and extended support for the Cockroach Janata Party's protest, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Padole also pledged to participate in the march to Parliament scheduled for July 20. He claimed that the dreams of the country's youth remain unfulfilled due to government corruption. (PTI)
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- 15 Jul 2026, 08:06:01 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait to visit Jantar Mantar tomorrow to meet Sonam
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Farmer leader Rakesh Tikait says he will be going to Jantar Mantar on July 16, tomorrow, to meet Sonam Wangchuk. He wrote on X: "Sonam Wangchuk ji, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi for the past eighteen days, but the government is not at all serious about him. Tomorrow, we will reach Jantar Mantar at five in the evening and meet Sonam Wangchuk ji."
- 15 Jul 2026, 07:58:19 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Mamata says she spoke to Sonam Wangchuk
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: TMC chief Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday that she had spoken to Sonam Wangchuk. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke posted on X on Tuesday, saying Mamata had urged Sonam to stay strong and extended her solidarity with CJP's movement seeking justice for students.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 07:01:46 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Kunal Kamra joins CJP protest
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Stand-up artist Kunal Kamra joined CJP protest on Wednesday. CJP posted the photos of Kamra sharing the stage with founder Abhijeet Dipke.
- 15 Jul 2026, 06:35:38 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Tharoor requests Wangchuk to end hunger strike
An Open Letter to the Jantar Mantar protestors:
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 15, 2026
My dear young friends,
I address you today not as a politician or an MP, but as someone deeply troubled by what is happening to your generation of young Indians.
This is personal for me. I was born to a middle-class family: my…Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Shashi Tharoor has appealed to Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, saying India needs his voice in the long road ahead.
"To Shri Sonam Wangchuk-ji, my heartfelt appeal: please end your fast. You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do. India needs your voice for the long road ahead. With Parliament in session again from Monday, we will have an opportunity to raise the students’ issues in the highest forum of our democracy. That’s where the problem should be addressed, not by fasting unto death. Please heed my plea," Tharoor wrote on X.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 06:11:12 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CJP alleges conspiracy ahead of July 20 Parliament march
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka alleged that there is a conspiracy to create a "false narrative" around their Parliament march scheduled for July 20.
"Some senior officials have informed that right wing goons are being especially sent to Jantar Mantar to make Anti-India videos, which are then being compiled to create a false narrative against us. Meetings after meetings are happening to conspire against a peaceful, patriotic movement. 10% of this could have actually solved the problem of paper leaks. But what else can you expect from illiterates?", Ranka wrote on X.
- 15 Jul 2026, 05:53:54 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Munawar Faruqui backs CJP, Wangchuk; calls for government action
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: In a post on social media, Indian comedian and rapper Munawar Faruqui has backed the Cockroach Janta Party and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently on an indefinite hunger strike.
“THIS HUNGER STRIKE IS FOR BETTERMENT OF EDUCATION & STUDENTS OF OUR COUNTRY. GOVERNMENT SHOULD COME UP WITH PURE solution to resolve the leaks! Sonam Wangchuk is fighting for country not against it,” Faruqui wrote.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 05:42:40 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Sikkim party calls for dialogue, flags concern over Wangchuk’s health
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Citizen Action Party in Sikkim expressed deep concern over the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on hunger strike in the national capital over the past 18 days. The party has called on the Centre to engage in a "constructive dialogue" with the protesters.
"We offer our sincere prayers for his safety, good health, and well-being, and remain hopeful that the Union government, in keeping with the finest traditions of Indian democracy, will give due consideration to his concerns and initiate a constructive and meaningful dialogue at the earliest," said a statement issued by the party.
- 15 Jul 2026, 05:15:57 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Delhi HC to hear PIL to end hunger strike on Thursday
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday, said it will hear on Thursday a public interest litigation raising concern over the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar here.
The Cockroach Janta Party has been holding a protest for over 25 days demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite fast since then.
A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia took notice of the plea and deferred the hearing after noting that no one appeared for the authorities amid the ongoing work abstention called by the high court's bar association.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 04:59:51 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: ‘Govt responsible if anything happens to Wangchuk’, says TMC's Saket Gokhale
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The central government would be responsible "if anything happens" to Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 18 days, Trinamool Congress leader Saket Gokhale said on Wednesday in a letter to Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
"What would the govt lose by at least talking to him? It is wishful thinking to expect a resignation from a shameless govt. But the fact that they're ok even if Mr Wangchuk dies is a new low. He has lost over 8 kgs of weight in two weeks. His condition is extremely critical.
"If anything happens to Mr Sonam Wangchuk, the Modi Govt & Dharmendra Pradhan must be held responsible for not even reaching out to him," he said.
The appeal came a day after Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee spoke to Wangchuk over the phone to inquire about his health.
- 15 Jul 2026, 04:46:18 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Shabana Azmi, Soni Razdan urge activist to end strike
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Soni Razdan made appeals to Wangchuk, requesting him to end his indefinite hunger strike.
In a post on Instagram, Azmi came out in support of Wangchuk and said the country needs more people like him.
"Our country needs people like you. You have stood up against injustice and stood firmly for the truth. We are proud of you. We earnestly request you to end your fast because your guidance inspires and strengthens our students. This is a long struggle, and it is important that you remain healthy so you can continue to lead it. We stand with you," she wrote alongside a photo of Wangchuk.
Razdan also urged Wangchuk to end his fast, saying she is praying for the activist's good health.
"Dear Sonam Wangchuk, For your health we all do pray. Please do not leave us in this way. Please live to fight another day. Please stay. Please end your fast today. We need you. Don't leave us," she posted on Instagram.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 04:24:59 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: TMC's Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad extend support to Wangchuk
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad on Tuesday extended support to students' protests and activist Sonam Wangchuk.
"We want Dharmendra Pradhan to resign immediately. Our students are sitting on the streets. Go and meet the students, sit with them," Azad said, referring to the indefinite protest by Wangchuk and students at Jantar Mantar.
Moitra questioned the government's handling of examinations, saying it reflected a collapse of the system.
- 15 Jul 2026, 04:10:41 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Rakhi Sawant says will meet Wangchuk, urges him to end strike
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Actor Rakhi Sawant on Wednesday urged Wangchuk to end his hunger strike and said that she wants to visit Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to meet the activist.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 04:00:18 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: 'Why is PM refusing to engage in dialogue?' asks Dipke
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Activist Sonam Wangchuk remained under continuous medical supervision on Wednesday as he completed the 18th day of his hunger strike. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke accused the government of showing "cruelty" by refusing to hold talks with the protesters.
Dipke questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not initiated a dialogue with the protesters and why Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan had yet to be held accountable.
"Instead of asking why opposition leader hasn't supported CJP, or why every CJP team member isn't on a hunger strike alongside Sonam sir, ask the questions that actually matter," he said.
"Why is the Prime Minister refusing to engage in a dialogue? Why is the Education Minister still not being held accountable? These are the questions that deserve answers, not distractions that only help shield those in power from accountability," he said.
- 15 Jul 2026, 03:45:22 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Kejriwal to meet Wangchuk on July 16, says AAP MLA
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal will meet activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar on Thursday, party MLA Sanjeev Jha said on Wednesday and urged people to join the ongoing protest against alleged exam irregularities
He said Kejriwal would visit Jantar Mantar at 4 pm on Thursday to extend support to Wangchuk and appealed to people from Delhi and across the country to gather at the protest site.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 03:23:44 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: ‘Govt cruel for ignoring him’, says Abhijeet Dipke
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Activist Sonam Wangchuk was under round-the-clock medical supervision on Wednesday as he completed the 18th day of his hunger strike, with Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke accusing the government of being "cruel" for refusing to engage in dialogue with the protesters.
"Day 18 of Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike. The man who chose to put his own life on the line to seek justice for students who died by suicide has received nothing but silence from the government. The government is not just unaccountable; it is also cruel," Dipke said on X.
- 15 Jul 2026, 03:02:24 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: BJP's Manoj Tiwari accuses Wangchuk of ‘slowing country’s progress’
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: BJP MP Manoj Tiwari spoke on Wangchuk's hunger strike and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal extending support to the activist, calling Wangchuk and the CJP leaders an “extension of AAP”.
“Sonam Wangchuk and all others (at Jantar Mantar protest) are extension of AAP, collectively they all try to slow down country's progress,” he told news agency PTI.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 02:50:10 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CPI(M) backs Jantar Mantar protest, expresses concern for Wangchuk's health
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby said the Central Committee has decided to extend its support to the protest and the July 20 march to Parliament.
"The students are on a warpath," he said, as he announced support to the agitators and their march.
Expressing concern over Wangchuk's deteriorating health, the CPI(M), in a statement, alleged that the BJP-led government's refusal to address the agitators' demands reflects its "authoritarian and anti-youth character."
- 15 Jul 2026, 02:20:10 PM IST
Akhilesh dials Sonam Wangchuk, urges him to end fast
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday appealed to educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, saying that no sacrifice holds significance for the "insensitive" BJP government.
Yadav also talked to Wangchuk over the phone to enquire about his health and expressed his party's "open support" to the protest.
"We humbly request and earnestly appeal to Shri Sonam Wangchuk ji to break his fast. His life is invaluable to the entire world because it embodies the same commitment to humanity and the environment as it does to democracy," Yadav posted on X.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 01:58:05 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Delhi HC to hear plea on Wangchuk's health tomorrow
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Delhi high court said it will hear on Thursday a public interest litigation raising concern over the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar here.
A bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia on Wednesday deferred hearing on the PIL after noting that none appeared for the authorities amid the ongoing work abstention called by the high court's bar association.
- 15 Jul 2026, 01:43:48 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Saket Gokhale writes to Dharmendra Pradhan; urges him to communicate with Wangchuk
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: TMC leader Saket Gokhale has written to education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, urging him to communicate with activist Sonam Wangchuk and listen to the concerns he’s expressing about NEET and CBSE on behalf of lakhs of students.
Sharing the letter on X, Gokhale said, "Across India, lakhs of us are extremely concerned about the deteriorating health of Mr Sonam Wangchuk who has been fasting since 28th June.
Whose duty is it to reach out & listen to him? THE MODI GOVT"
He added that if anything were to happen to Wangchuk, then the Modi government and Pradhan should be held accountable.
“If anything happens to Mr Sonam Wangchuk, the Modi Govt & @dpradhanbjp must be held responsible for not even reaching out to him.”
He further criticised the government over its silence on the ongoing protest, calling it a “shameful & pathetic."
“The least that the Govt could’ve done was reach out to Mr Wangchuk & listen to his concerns. He is not protesting for himself but is doing so for lakhs of students. What would the govt lose by at least talking to him?”
"It is wishful thinking to expect a resignation from a shameless govt. But the fact that they’re ok even if Mr Wangchuk dies is a new low. He has lost over 8 kgs of weight in two weeks. His condition is EXTREMELY CRITICAL."
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- 15 Jul 2026, 01:24:41 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Congress' Shashi Tharoor urges Wangchuk to end fast
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his fast at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam, and urged the government to engage in dialogue, asserting that such a move is not a sign of weakness but that of statesmanship.
In an open letter to the Jantar Mantar protestors, Tharoor said that with Parliament in session again from Monday, there will be an opportunity to raise the students' issues at the highest forum of democracy. "That's where the problem should be addressed, not by fasting unto death. Please heed my plea," he said.
In his message to Wangchuk, Tharoor made a "heartfelt appeal" to him to end his fast.
"You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do. India needs your voice for the long road ahead," Tharoor said.
- 15 Jul 2026, 01:12:10 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Abhijeet Dipke's CJP calls for mass hunger strike tomorrow
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has called for a one-day mass hunger strike on July 16 in solidarity with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and students across the country.
In a post on X, CJP said, “Tomorrow, July 16th, join us for 1-day mass hunger strike in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk and the students of this country.”
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- 15 Jul 2026, 12:56:51 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Full list of actors and politicians who have supported Wangchuk so far
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: With concerns rising over his worsening health, several public figures, including actors, writers and politicians, have expressed their support for Wangchuk while urging him to end his hunger strike.
Politicians, including TMC founder Mamata Banerjee, AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor have extended their support.
Meanwhile, actors, including Zeenat Aman, Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah have extended their support to Wangchuk.
- 15 Jul 2026, 12:46:54 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Dipke changes profile picture on X to ‘support Sonam’
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who has been sharing daily updates on Wangchuk's health ever since the strike began, changed his profile picture on X on Wednesday and called on others to do so in order to show their “support to Sonam Wangchuk”.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 12:36:34 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CJP announces ‘mass hunger strike’ call amid activist's health concerns
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced a ‘mass hunger strike’ on July 16 (Thursday) as activist Sonam Wangchuk continues his hunger strike despite deteriorating health.
“Tomorrow, July 16th, join us for 1-day mass hunger strike in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk and the students of this country,” the CJP posted on its X account.
- 15 Jul 2026, 12:17:16 PM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Wangchuk's weight, blood pressure drops further
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike reached its 18th day on Wednesday.
In a health update posted on the CJP's X account, Wangchuk's doctor was heard saying that the activist has lost 8.9 kg during the fast, while his blood pressure has fallen further to 105/76.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 11:57:23 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CJP to hold march to Parliament on July 20
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Cockroach Janta Party has announced that it would march peacefully to Parliament on the first day of the monsoon session on July 20.
The CJP called upon students, parents and citizens from across the country to join the march to seek justice for students who allegedly ended their lives after glitches in competitive examinations surfaced, to demand a transparent and credible examination system, and to press for Pradhan's resignation.
In an X post earlier, Wangchuk appealed to people across the country to join the march, saying Parliament was the appropriate forum to raise the issue.
- 15 Jul 2026, 11:40:22 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Aayush Sapra's ‘food review’ at hunger strike receives backlash
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Food vlogger Aayush Sapra has been receiving backlash over his video reviewing the snacks being served while the activist continues his strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
In the video, which has now gone viral, Sapra is seen walking around the protest site, sampling different food items and interacting with people present there. Holding a bowl of chhole, he says, “Yahan we have chhole ki sabji. Roti khatam ho gayi hai. Demand bohot zyada hai. Sirf Sonam ji bhookhe hain, baki sab bhar bhar ke kha rahe hain)."
Later in the video, he speaks to people at the venue and jokingly says he feels like tempting Wangchuk with the samosas and chutney he is eating.
A user wrote on X: “It's utterly disgusting watching him spew such vile, nonsensical garbage while stuffing his face. What a pathetic and tasteless thing to joke about. The audacity makes me so mad.”
Another said, “No but at what point does someone become so morally deranged that there’s literally no shred of humanity left in them?”
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- 15 Jul 2026, 11:33:18 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Vir Das extends support to Wangchuk, calls govt to engage in dialogue
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Comedian and actor Vir Das extended support to Sonam Wangchuk's protest and urged the government to engage in dialogue.
“I'd like to believe a citizen on a 16day hunger strike warrants a conversation with the government whose actions brought him to that place. I say ‘a citizen’ because perhaps any citizen fighting for a cause, for students, would expect the same. Acknowledgment at some level of govt. I cannot imagine a person who wants harm to come to Mr Wangchuk. I don’t see why a mere dialogue is this hard," he wrote in a post on X.
He added, “As a citizen, I don’t pretend to understand any sort of political manoeuvring. As a citizen, I’ve certainly been proved wrong more than I have been right. Political strategy, alliances aside, as a citizen…you cannot dispute what he is fighting for. Younger citizens. Happy to be called naive, simplistic, or ignorant. But I see students crying for help, a citizen on a hunger strike, and I request my govt to engage in dialogue.”
- 15 Jul 2026, 11:12:28 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Uddhav's appeal to Congress on Wangchuk hunger strike
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, on Monday, called on Congress MP and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi to visit and show support for the Cockroach Janta Party's ongoing protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Speaking at a press conference in Mumbai, the UBT chief stated that he will visit the protest site, and called on Rahul Gandhi to visit as well.
“I will also go. Rahul Gandhi ji should also go. All those who have faith in the country's youth should go. People across the entire country should come out on the streets and support them,” he said.
As reported by HT earlier, Thackeray is scheduled to travel to Delhi on July 20 to visit Jantar Mantar and join the ongoing protest.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 10:49:51 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Shashi Tharoor urges Wangchuk to end fast
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday wrote an open letter to the CJP protesters gathered at the Jantar Mantar and urged Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike.
“To Shri Sonam Wangchuk-ji, my heartfelt appeal: please end your fast. You have awakened the conscience of the nation; that is what a fast is meant to do. India needs your voice for the long road ahead,” he wrote in the letter posted on X.
“With Parliament in session again from Monday, we will have an opportunity to raise the students’ issues in the highest forum of our democracy. That’s where the problem should be addressed, not by fasting unto death. Please heed my plea.”
He urged the government to engage in dialogue with the protesters, saying that it is “not weakness; that is statesmanship”.
- 15 Jul 2026, 10:36:22 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Why Wangchuk is on hunger strike at Jantar Mantar
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike and has refused to end the protest demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET 2026 paper leak and alleged irregularities in the CBSE’s on-screen marking system.
The protest has been ongoing for 25 days, demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET 2026 paper leak and alleged irregularities in the CBSE’s on-screen marking system.
Wangchuk joined the protest on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike since then. Tuesday marked the 17th day of his fast.
Protest organisers have claimed Wangchuk has lost over 8kg, developed muscle loss and is experiencing severe weakness, though he has refused repeated requests to end the fast.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 10:28:54 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Arundhati Roy, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah urge Wangchuk to end fast
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Writer Arundhati Roy and actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah appealed to protesters on indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar to call off their fast, while extending full support to their demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
In a joint statement on Monday, the signatories said they were "immensely grateful" to the protesters for leading the agitation against the government but expressed deep concern over their worsening health.
"We salute your sense of purpose, the determination and courage with which you are spearheading this movement for students and youth across the country," the statement said.
Appealing to the protesters to end their fast, they said, "We request you to please consider ending this hunger strike immediately in the interests of the longer and more difficult struggle ahead. This battle is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need you, your strength and leadership in the days to come."
- 15 Jul 2026, 10:23:12 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: AAP's Kejriwal extends support to Wangchuk
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday extended his support to the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar and urged climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike amid concerns over his health.
Kejriwal said the AAP stands firmly with the CJP’s demands and called for Pradhan’s resignation. “The Central government must fix the system so that paper leaks never happen again and children do not have to suffer,” he said.
“There are many other ways to put your message across... I will visit the protest site at Jantar Mantar on Thursday to express solidarity,” Kejriwal said.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 10:10:34 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Plea filed in Delhi HC to force-feed, hospitalise Wangchuk
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: A public interest litigation (PIL) has been moved before the Delhi high court, seeking immediate medical care for Wangchuk. The petition has been filed by advocate Rakesh Kumar Saini.
Saini has urged the court to direct the Central Government and the Delhi government to shift Wangchuk to a hospital and ensure he receives the required medical treatment, including force-feeding. The plea also seeks directions to the authorities to safeguard Wangchuk's life and health, LiveLaw reported.
The case is scheduled to be heard today by a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia.
“….take him to a government hospital and force feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals, by way of a liquid diet which are necessary for a human body to survive,” the plea reportedly states.
- 15 Jul 2026, 10:06:14 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: '3 Idiots' actor Omi Vaidya extends support to Wangchuk
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: "3 Idiots" actor Omi Vaidya on Tuesday urged people to pay attention to the deteriorating health of Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on hunger strike since June 28, saying he does not want the activist to die. Notably, Wangchuk inspired Aamir Khan's "3 Idiots" character of Phunsukh Wangdu.
Vaidya, who essayed the fan-favourite role of Chatur "Silencer" Ramalingam in the Rajkumar Hirani-directed 2009 film, shared a video on his X handle to bring people's attention to Wangchuk's situation.
"I don't want him to die. Hello idiots, pehchana? This is Omi Vaidya, Chatur from '3 Idiots'. I have an important message for you. I don't really do this very often, so please listen up," he said in the video.
Vaidya then reminded that Khan's character Phunsukh Wangdu was inspired by Wangchuk, calling him a "humble" and "pretty impressive person".
"I suggest you look it up and see what he is up to because right now he is on a very long hunger strike, it is over several weeks, and his blood sugar has gone down very much.
"I don't know if you have heard about this, I don't know if the media is reporting this, but this is a pretty important thing... Why he is on the hunger strike ? He has some issues with the education system in India...and whether you agree with him or not, I don't want him to die," the actor said.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 09:54:36 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Outrage over vlogger Aayush Sapra's ‘food review’ at hunger strike
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Food vlogger Aayush Sapra has been receiving backlash over his video reviewing the snacks being served while the activist continues his strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
A user wrote on X: “It's utterly disgusting watching him spew such vile, nonsensical garbage while stuffing his face. What a pathetic and tasteless thing to joke about. The audacity makes me so mad.”
Another said, “No but at what point does someone become so morally deranged that there’s literally no shred of humanity left in them?”
- 15 Jul 2026, 09:41:02 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Zeenat Aman backs Wangchuk, urges govt to hold talks
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Veteran actor Zeenat Aman appealed to the Centre on Tuesday to open a dialogue with Wangchuk, saying India should not “sit back and watch one of its greatest minds be sacrificed”.
In a post on Instagram, she said the government must have "peaceful" talks with Wangchuk as it concerns the "future of all India".
"We must not become a society that sits back and watches one of its greatest minds be sacrificed. India has a long history of peaceful protest; those who wield power are obliged to meet such protest with peaceful dialogue," she wrote.
"With respect to Mr. Wangchuk's wishes, I implore the Indian government to open dialogue on this matter that concerns the future of all India," she added.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 09:32:40 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Uddhav Thackeray urges him to end strike, calls govt insensitive
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday backed the protest of CJP and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in Delhi over alleged irregularities in NEET exams, saying parties should support the stir without bringing in their political affiliations.
"Today, I announce my complete support to the protest of (CJP founder) Abhijit Dipke and Sonam Wangchuk," he said.
- 15 Jul 2026, 09:25:05 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Wangchuk received ‘nothing but silence’, says Dipke in new post
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who has been sharing regular updates about Wangchuk's health, said in a social media post on Wednesday that the activist has “received nothing but silence from the government” over his hunger strike. He also called the government “cruel”.
“The man who chose to put his own life on the line to seek justice for students who died by suicide has received nothing but silence from the govt. The govt is not just unaccountable; it is also cruel,” the X post read.
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- 15 Jul 2026, 09:19:06 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Akhilesh Yadav urges Wangchuk to end hunger fast
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday spoke to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and appealed to him to call off his fast during the ongoing protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar.
Yadav said he had called the Ladakh activist to enquire about his condition and extended the party's "open support" to Wangchuk's satyagraha. He urged Wangchuk to heed the appeals coming from across the country and the world, and to pause the protest for a few days to recover.
- 15 Jul 2026, 09:10:49 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Alia Bhatt's mother urges Wangchuk to end fast
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Soni Razdan, actor Alia Bhatt's mother urged Wangchuk to end his hunger strike on Wednesday.
In a post on Instagram, she wrote: “Dear Sonam Wangchuk, For your health we all do pray, please do not leave us in this way, please live to fight another day. Please stay. Please end your fast today.”
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- 15 Jul 2026, 09:04:30 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Not just Wangchuk, student activists are on hunger strike too
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Wangchuk is not the only one on hunger strike at the protest spearheaded by CJP, founded by Abhijeet Dipke.
Student activists have also been on a parallel hunger strike for the same duration. At least four of them are from the All India Students Association (AISA).
One of them had to be hospitalised on Monday due to hypovolemic shock, an emergency caused by severe blood or fluid loss that can affect the heart. Identified as Deepak, he was discharged from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Tuesday.
According to a statement released by AISA, Deepak's heartbeat fluctuated while he was under observation, following which doctors conducted medical tests. His ECG was normal, and his pulse rate stabilised before discharge.
- 15 Jul 2026, 08:48:21 AM IST
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Wangchuk's strike enters day 18
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi ended day 18 on Wednesday.
Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) continue to demand the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET (UG) 2026 exam and other exams.
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