The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at the Jantar Mantar entered its 16th day on Sunday, demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and government accountability over alleged examination irregularities. Simultaneously, it was the eighth day of an indefinite hunger strike announced by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
With Wangchuk’s hunger strike on its eighth day, it is learnt that the climate activist has lost around six kg since beginning the fast.
According to a health bulletin issued by doctors, Wangchuk’s blood pressure was recorded at 112/70 mm Hg in the lying-down position, heart rate at 72 beats per minute and blood sugar at 67 mg/dL. The bulletin said his hydration is fair, he is mentally alert and his weight has dropped to 60.95 kg, accounting for a loss of around six kg in seven days.
Taking to X, Wangchuk wrote, “DAY 8. Still Alive, though not kicking. Some 7,000 people gathered at Jantar Mantar today from morning to evening. Leaders of various social and political movements spoke in support. A clear indication of how effective this movement is can be judged from the number of trolls in the comments below. Over the years, I’ve seen that this number is directly proportional to the impact. I’ll be so sad & dejected the day they go missing. Thank you, my success-o-meter, for your hard work.”
Day 16 Of CJP Protest
Meanwhile, the CJP on Day 16 of its protest continues to press for Pradhan’s resignation, alleging that repeated examination irregularities and paper leaks.
In a post on X, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the parents of NEET aspirant Riya Kumari Thapa, who the outfit claims died after the alleged paper leak shattered her dreams, visited the protest site on Sunday. Dipke said Thapa’s father, an Army veteran, joined the protest with the appeal that no other family should have to endure the loss that his family has suffered and urged the Centre to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
In another post, the CJP said it stands firmly with Thapa’s parents in their grief and fight against what it described as a corrupt system that failed their daughter.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges, held on May 3, was cancelled amid allegations of paper leak. A re-test was held on June 21.
The CJP protest began on June 20 over alleged irregularities in the country’s examination system and has since drawn support from several political leaders, activists and civil-society members.
(With agency inputs)