Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent activist and educationist known as “Sonam sir,” has been hospitalized after 26 days on a hunger strike in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement demanding education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest venue at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday and transferred to Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, where he remains in stable condition in the ICU, having lost 11 kilograms during his fast.
The movement gained significant momentum following a violent police crackdown earlier in the week, when tens of thousands of demonstrators marched toward parliament as the monsoon session opened. The clash resulted in at least 60 protesters and 118 police officers being injured, with police employing batons and tear gas to disperse crowds. Despite the dispersal efforts, demonstrators have maintained a continuous sit-in at Jantar Mantar under heavy security. The incident has drawn considerable public attention and sparked opposition criticism of the government’s handling of the protest.
Wangchuk has refused multiple appeals to end his hunger strike, including requests from government officials and opposition leaders. He stated that he would break his fast only upon receiving assurance that students would face no force or retaliatory action from authorities. His demands, along with broader CJP objectives, center on accountability for repeated leaks of major public examinations and structural education system reforms. The CJP has maintained that Education Minister Pradhan’s resignation remains a non-negotiable demand.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not directly engaged with protesters but posted a statement addressing student concerns about exam paper leaks, announcing plans for fast-track courts and stricter punishments for those involved in breaches. Opposition leaders and CJP representatives have characterized such measures as insufficient, arguing that the government must address systemic causes rather than applying remedial actions after failures occur. Authorities have intensified security measures, closing 16 Delhi metro stations in central areas, with protesters claiming the action aims to prevent access to the protest site.
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