Activist Sonam Vanchuk stated that he will end his hunger strike if the government acknowledges responsibility for recent problems in the education system, including leaks of examination materials, or if members of parliament guarantee him that the issue of accountability in education will be raised during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which begins on Monday.
In a post on the social media platform X, Vanchuk outlined three conditions under which he would cease fasting. He announced that he would stop on July 20th if: a) the government takes responsibility for recent failures in the education system, such as material leaks; b) he and the CJP leadership reach the Parliament doors, where MPs and leaders of various parties promise to raise the issue in Parliament; or c) if his health or other circumstances prevent this, MPs and leaders of different parties visit him in the hospital and give the aforementioned assurances while he is under illegal detention at Safdarjung Hospital, where his freedom of movement, speech, and communication is restricted.
Earlier, on Sunday, Vanchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, also stated that Sonam would end his hunger strike if politicians met with him at Safdarjung Hospital and promised to raise the issue of accountability in education. She specified that Sonam would end the fast the next day if political leaders met with him at Safdarjung Hospital and promised to raise the issue of accountability during this Parliament session, making educational accountability and reforms the main theme of the session. However, if accountability is not ensured through Parliament, he will continue to fast, and he has not broken his fast even after two days in the hospital.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, authorities deployed security personnel near Jantar Mantar in Delhi ahead of the announced march to Parliament by the Cockroach Janata Party. Police observers monitored the protest area. The Cockroach Janata Party continues to hold its protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and called for a march to Parliament on the first day of the Monsoon Session on Monday. Nevertheless, sources informed ANI that the organization had not yet approached the Delhi police for official permission for this march. The march was previously announced by activist Sonam Vanchuk, who was taken to the hospital on Saturday morning.
According to his wife Gitanjali Angmo, activist Sonam Wangchuk will end his indefinite hunger strike if politicians meet with him at Safdarjung Hospital and promise to raise the issue of accountability in the education sector during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which begins on Monday.
Angmo stated this while addressing protesters at Jantar Mantar, where the movement against the alleged NEET exam leak is led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Activist Wangchuk conveyed that he will cease his fast provided that political parties commit to raising this issue in Parliament.
Angmo specified: 'If political leaders meet with Sonam in the hospital and assure him that they will raise the issue of accountability in education during the Monsoon Session, he will end his hunger strike tomorrow.' She also relayed Wangchuk's appeal to his supporters ahead of the planned CJP march 'Chalo Sansad' on Monday, urging them to maintain peace and discipline.
Regarding the activist's health, Angmo reported that Sonam is in stable condition. She mentioned that she had tried to secure his transfer to a private clinic through a higher court but was unsuccessful. On Saturday, Delhi police forcibly took Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital after three weeks of fasting at the CJP protest site at Jantar Mantar.
Angmo and CJP claim that Wangchuk continues to fast in the hospital, refusing IV drips. CJP and Wangchuk himself demand accountability regarding the alleged NEET exam leak, action against those responsible, and broader reforms in the education system.
The proposed march to Parliament on Monday coincides with the opening day of the Monsoon Session, which will last until August 13. In recent weeks, the action has received support from several opposition leaders and student organizations, and the Delhi High Court is also monitoring Wangchuk's medical condition through periodic reports.
Sonam Wangchuk stated on Tuesday that although he is in poor but not critical condition, his indefinite hunger strike against alleged irregularities in the NEET examinations and material leaks has entered its nineteenth day.
In a video message published on X, Wangchuk urged people to join the planned march to Parliament on July 20th instead of asking him to stop fasting. He noted that thousands of people sent him messages requesting him to end the fast and eat. Many senior leaders contacted him, some warmly, others insistently, and some even filed petitions in court demanding forced feeding.
Wangchuk emphasized that even if he ends the fast, nothing will change, and the only signal the government will receive is the absence of a need for accountability. He added that people organize protests and then simply leave.
Despite his declining health, Wangchuk asserted that he is capable of continuing the fast for 'a few more days' and reported that his heart and circulatory system are functioning normally. He specified that after numerous medical examinations conducted over the 18 days of fasting, the results were quite normal, including a recent ECG that showed no problems. Acknowledging weakness and muscle loss, he insisted on the good function of his heart and internal organs.
Instead of asking him to stop fasting, he appealed to everyone to take a small step: to participate in a mass demonstration on July 20th to send a clear message to the government. These statements came amid remarks by Abhijit Dipu, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, who claimed that Wangchuk was losing muscle mass and experiencing 'unbearable pain,' and also reported that the activist had lost 8.5 kg since the start of the fast.
Earlier, a petition was filed in the Delhi High Court demanding that Wangchuk be forcibly fed and transferred to a government hospital. According to this petition, Wangchuk's condition had significantly worsened, and if he continued fasting, he could lose his life within two days, prompting the court to intervene immediately as saving his life was paramount.
Previously, several opposition leaders had appealed to Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike at Jantarkhand in Delhi. The CJP protest at Jantarkhand began on June 20th and aims to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan due to alleged irregularities in the NEET and other examinations. The organization announced a march to Parliament for July 20th.
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has announced a one-day mass hunger strike on July 16th in solidarity with Sonam Vanchuk. This step is taken against the backdrop of Vanchuk's ongoing prolonged fast, during which he protests the leak of examination materials and irregularities in the conduct of exams.
As Vanchuk's fast reached its eighteenth day, his health condition deteriorated. Abhijit Dipke, founder of CJP, reported that the activist is losing muscle mass and experiencing 'unbearable pain,' noting a weight loss of 8.5 kg since the start of the protest.
The Cockroach Janata Party has been holding protests at Janthar Mantar for 25 days regarding issues related to NEET. As part of its protest, the party presented a five-point plan for exam reform and stated that support for its campaign is growing among various political parties.
Earlier that same day, a petition was filed in the Delhi High Court demanding the forced feeding of activist Sonam Vanchuk and his transfer to a government hospital. According to the petition, Vanchuk's condition had significantly worsened, and there was a risk of his death within two days if the fast continued. Immediate judicial intervention was strongly urged as saving his life was paramount.
The petition argued that the authorities should transfer Vanchuk to a state medical facility and, if necessary, provide medically controlled liquid nutrition containing essential vitamins and minerals to prevent further deterioration of his condition. It was emphasized that such intervention, even if carried out against his will, was necessary to preserve his life. The document stated: 'A simple thing to do is to take him to a government hospital and forcibly feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals in the form of a liquid diet that the human body needs to survive.'
