Activist Sonam Wangchuk has refused to end his 17-day indefinite hunger strike despite losing 8.5 kg and experiencing deteriorating health, insisting that he will continue his fast until the government agrees to hold a dialogue, according to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
In a health bulletin issued on Tuesday, the CJP said Wangchuk’s blood pressure was recorded at 109/70 mm Hg. The outfit added that he has begun losing muscle mass and is suffering from severe physical pain as his condition continues to worsen.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said he personally appealed to Wangchuk to end the hunger strike, but the activist firmly declined.
“I requested him to end the fast. He calmly replied, ‘Don’t ask me to end my fast. Ask the government why they won’t even have a dialogue,'” Dipke said in a post on X.
Dipke also revealed that Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal contacted him to enquire about Wangchuk’s health and expressed concern over his deteriorating condition. He thanked Kejriwal for extending support to the CJP’s ongoing protest and its proposed “Chalo Sansad” march scheduled for July 20.
In another post, Dipke said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also spoke to him and expressed concern over Wangchuk’s rapidly declining health.
According to Dipke, Thackeray urged Wangchuk to end the hunger strike, stressing that his health was of utmost importance, while extending support to the CJP’s planned march to Parliament on July 20.
Meanwhile, All India Students’ Association (AISA) activist Deepak, who was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Monday after his health deteriorated during the indefinite hunger strike, was discharged on Tuesday morning.
AISA said doctors observed fluctuations in his heartbeat and conducted medical examinations. His ECG was found to be normal, and his pulse rate stabilised before he was discharged.
The organisation said its other activists — Neha, Manish and Aameen — continue their indefinite hunger strike from a separate protest stage.
The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and has also sought compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following examination-related controversies.
The outfit has intensified preparations for its proposed “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20, coinciding with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, and has urged supporters to register through its missed-call campaign.
The CJP launched its protest on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike since then.
