Activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday announced that he would continue his indefinite hunger strike until July 20 to lead the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) planned march to Parliament. Speaking to supporters, he jokingly remarked that if the mobilisation failed, he would "come back as a ghost." His fast entered its 20th day on Friday, with growing concerns over his declining health and repeated appeals from supporters to end the strike.
"I will stay alive by any means until July 20 so that I can march to Parliament with all of you. And if our march doesn't succeed on July 20, then I'll come back as a ghost," Wangchuk told protesters at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the education system.
Meanwhile, the CJP protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 28th day, with the "Sansad Chalo" march on July 20 emerging as the movement's next major event. The march coincides with the opening day of Parliament's monsoon session.
Addressing supporters, Wangchuk urged them to focus their efforts on ensuring a large turnout for the peaceful march.
"I may be physically weak, but I remain strong from within. I know all of you are strong too. We need that strength on July 20 when we march peacefully to Parliament and present our demands in the temple of democracy," he said.
JOIN THE JULY 20 PARLIAMENT MARCH: WANGCHUK
Despite repeated appeals from supporters and public figures asking him to end his fast, Wangchuk stressed that the movement requires participation rather than sympathy.
Earlier this week, in a video message, he urged people not to persuade him to end his hunger strike but instead to join the July 20 march to Parliament.
"Rather than asking me to break my fast, please join me on July 20 for the peaceful march to Parliament," he had said.
Wangchuk has maintained that ending the fast without any response from the Narendra Modi government would send the wrong message. He has consistently called for dialogue with the Centre while continuing to demand Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
WANGCHUK'S HEALTH CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
As the hunger strike entered its third week, Wangchuk's health continued to decline.
According to a medical update issued on Thursday, his weight has dropped to 56.65 kg, a loss of 500 grams in the previous 24 hours and more than 9 kg since the fast began.
Doctors recorded his blood pressure at 105/61 mmHg, blood sugar at 80 mg/dL, and oxygen saturation at 97%. Although he remains conscious and mentally alert, doctors have advised continuous medical monitoring.
Concern over his health has also reached the Delhi High Court, which directed the Centre and the Delhi government to monitor his condition daily and provide medical assistance if necessary. The Centre informed the court on Thursday that it would continue to closely monitor his health.
Over the past week, politicians, writers, actors, and civil society members have visited Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with Wangchuk, with many urging him to call off his hunger strike.
HUNGER STRIKE HAS TRANSFORMED THE CJP MOVEMENT
Wangchuk's indefinite fast has significantly changed the direction of the Cockroach Janta Party's protest.
The movement initially began as a satirical campaign led by students. The CJP itself was formed after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant referred to unemployed youth as "cockroaches" and "parasites," prompting Abhijeet Dipke, then based in Boston, to launch the satirical political initiative.
However, Wangchuk's decision to undertake an indefinite hunger strike transformed the campaign from an online movement into one centred on moral protest.
His personal sacrifice shifted public attention beyond slogans and speeches.
Only after his fast crossed the two-week mark did several prominent opposition leaders begin publicly engaging with the protest. Writers, actors, and civil society members also appealed to him to end the fast, while media attention increasingly focused on the Ladakh-based activist.
Today, many people visiting Jantar Mantar are not only protesting alleged shortcomings in the education system but are also standing in solidarity with Wangchuk, whose hunger strike has become the defining symbol of the movement.
Despite the growing support, Wangchuk has repeatedly emphasised that sympathy alone is not enough to sustain the campaign.
For him, the real measure of success will be the July 20 Parliament march, rather than the number of days he has spent without food. Reiterating his earlier remark, he joked that if the turnout for the march fell short of expectations, he would "come back as a ghost."
