Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Friday alleged that an attempt was made to disrupt the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar, adding that activist Sonam Wangchuk was targeted. Dipke alleged that an object was thrown towards him; however, he escaped unharmed.
“Goons tried to attack Sonam sir at Jantar Mantar. An object was thrown at him, but fortunately, he was not hurt,” Dipke posted on X.
“A few days ago, I had warned that people would be sent to Jantar Mantar to disrupt the protest after I was informed by an insider in the police. If anything happens to Sonam sir, the government will be responsible as there’s clearly a plan to dismantle the peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar,” he added.
Earlier today, Wangchuk said he has lost nearly 20 per cent of his body during his indefinite hunger strike but remained resolute, asserting that if governments could fall over rising onion prices, seeking accountability for students could also bring political change.
“Yes, I am still alive. Twenty per cent of my body is gone. After fats, muscles are gone. After that, organs will go. Finally, the brain. The time has not come yet,” Wangchuk said in a video message shared at the end of the 20th day of his fast.
Wangchuk also urged people to join the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed Parliament march on July 20 in large numbers, saying public participation was the movement’s biggest strength.
Seeking to reassure supporters about his condition, he added, “The 20th day is coming to an end. Let me prove that my mind is still fine.”
Referring to questions over whether the ongoing agitation would lead to accountability or the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Wangchuk said people often underestimated the power of mass movements.
“I ask you — do the people of India love their children’s lives and education more, or onions?” he said, before recalling that governments had fallen in the past over public anger triggered by soaring onion prices.
“Three times governments fell in India because of a people’s movement. Once in 1980, the central government fell. In 1998, the Delhi government fell. That year, the Rajasthan government also fell. And what was the movement about? Onion prices,” he said.
“And here we are talking about the lives of children. More than 20 suicides have taken place this year. There will be more in the years to come. Can we not ensure accountability through this movement? Will the education minister not resign?” he asked.