Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation sparked celebrations at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke declaring victory from the protest stage. However, his address made no mention of activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose 26-day hunger strike had helped transform the protest into a nationwide movement.
Speaking to supporters shortly after Pradhan's resignation, Dipke urged people not to elevate any individual into a hero, including himself.
"I want to say something very important. Don't make me a hero because Dharmendra Pradhan resigned today. Don't make that mistake. The country has suffered because we keep turning one person into a hero," Dipke said.
He described Pradhan's resignation as proof that citizens could hold those in power accountable if they stood united and refused to be intimidated.
According to Dipke, the resignation demonstrated that democracy works when people are fearless and determined.
Wangchuk's absence from the victory speech
Dipke's decision not to mention Sonam Wangchuk stood out because the Ladakh-based activist had played a pivotal role in giving momentum to the agitation through his 26-day indefinite fast.
Wangchuk is currently admitted to the ICU at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after ending his hunger strike on Thursday following assurances from Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
His decision to end the fast sparked political debate, with some critics questioning the circumstances under which he accepted the government's assurances. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, defended him, urging people to recognise the personal sacrifice he had made.
How Wangchuk strengthened the movement
The demonstrations at Jantar Mantar began on June 6 after Abhijeet Dipke returned to India from Boston. In the early days, only a handful of organisers, including Saurabh Das, Ashutosh Ranka and Vijeta Dahiya, were associated with the campaign, while Sonam Wangchuk emerged as one of the few prominent public figures supporting the students.
Initially, attendance at the protest site remained limited. As the government showed little sign of responding, Wangchuk began an indefinite hunger strike on June 28.
As the fast continued and his health visibly deteriorated, public attention grew significantly, leading to larger crowds at Jantar Mantar.
Concerned over the situation, authorities shifted Wangchuk to a hospital on July 18 before he was later moved to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.
His removal from the protest site became a rallying point. Supporters across the country adopted display pictures reading "I Support Sonam," featuring Wangchuk's image alongside the Indian tricolour.
Although he was no longer physically present, Wangchuk continued to encourage protesters through recorded messages. He also appealed for large participation in the July 20 march to Parliament, famously saying he would "return as a ghost" if the turnout disappointed him.
July 20 changed the protest
The movement took a dramatic turn during the July 20 march to Parliament.
As thousands of protesters gathered, clashes broke out. Amid allegations of attacks by unruly elements, the Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force used force to disperse the crowds.
Images and videos from the confrontation rapidly spread, triggering an even larger wave of public support. Attendance at Jantar Mantar surged as people reacted to the alleged police action.
On July 22, Wangchuk announced he would end his hunger strike after meeting Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, who assured him that peaceful protesters would not face punitive action. He also softened his demand for Pradhan's resignation, a move that drew criticism from some sections.
Debate after Wangchuk ended his fast
Wangchuk's decision to end his fast became the subject of intense debate, with critics arguing that accepting government assurances without securing Pradhan's resignation weakened the movement's original demands.
Responding to the criticism, his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, urged people to acknowledge the personal toll of his prolonged hunger strike and show empathy rather than judgment.
By that stage, however, the protest had grown beyond any one individual or organisation.
Speaking to India Today TV on Friday, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the movement was no longer limited to the CJP or Jantar Mantar, noting that demonstrations had spread across the country.
Ranka expressed relief that Wangchuk had ended his fast, saying organisers had been deeply worried about his health. He credited Wangchuk with inspiring people across the country and helping awaken public consciousness around the issue.
At the same time, he emphasised that the agitation had evolved into a broader public movement with a single, non-negotiable demand—the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
CJP leaders, including Dipke, Ranka and Saurabh Das, repeatedly stated that the movement had outgrown both the organisation and its leadership.
That demand was met on Saturday when Pradhan announced his resignation.
Even though the protests had ultimately become larger than any individual, Dipke's decision to omit any mention of Wangchuk during his victory speech attracted attention, given the activist's role in energising the movement and inspiring thousands of protesters.
