Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has lost 8.2 kg since beginning his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) said on Monday. The party also claimed that his blood glucose level had dropped to 67 mg/dL as it urged the Centre to respond to the protesters' demands.
With Wangchuk's fast entering its 16th day, the CJP said his health had deteriorated further. The party's protest over alleged examination irregularities entered Day 24 on Monday, with opposition leaders and student groups continuing to extend support at the demonstration site.
According to a health update released by the CJP, Wangchuk's blood pressure was recorded at 107/70 mm Hg. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke appealed to the government not to allow the issue to become what he described as "a battle of egos."
"Day 16 of Wangchuk's hunger strike. I request the government not to turn this into a battle of egos as human lives are at stake here," Dipke wrote in a post on X.
"Acknowledging a mistake is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of maturity, accountability, and the willingness to correct course. All we are asking for is accountability," he added.
During the day, an Aam Aadmi Party delegation led by former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi visited the protest site and expressed solidarity with the agitation, according to the CJP. CPI(M) MP Amra Ram, along with senior party leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan, also visited the site and extended support to the protesters' demands.
The visiting leaders also backed the proposed peaceful march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on July 20.
According to the CJP, the AAP delegation reiterated its support for the movement, called for a transparent, fair and credible examination system, and supported the demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
Meanwhile, members of the CPI(ML) Liberation-affiliated All India Students' Association (AISA)—Neha, Manish, Deepak and Aameen—continued their own indefinite hunger strike from a separate stage at the protest venue.
In a statement, AISA said Atishi met the students on hunger strike and expressed concern over what it described as a situation in which students had remained on an indefinite fast for weeks without any positive response from the government. The organisation also said the health of the students had deteriorated further but asserted that the protest would continue.
The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide over alleged examination irregularities.
The protest began on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike since then. The group is also planning a peaceful march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
