The Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike has entered its seventeenth consecutive day, with the prominent Indian activist’s deteriorating health prompting senior opposition figures to publicly appeal for him to end his fast. Wangchuk, a well known engineer turned education reformer and environmentalist, has been fasting at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site since 28 June, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a series of national exam paper leaks.
Origins Of The Protest
The demonstration traces back to widespread exam paper leaks in India that came to light in May 2026, disrupting national testing processes and affecting millions of students across the country. The scale of the disruption, and the distress it caused among examinees, gave rise to a youth led political movement known as the Cockroach Janta Party, founded by 30 year old Abhijeet Dipke. The group describes itself, somewhat provocatively, as representing what it calls the lazy, the unemployed and the chronically correct, a branding choice that appears to have resonated strongly with younger Indians frustrated by the state of the education system.
Since its founding in May, the Cockroach Janta Party has built a striking online following, gaining an estimated 22 million followers on Instagram within days of launching. That rapid growth has translated into sustained real world pressure, with the party organising a continuing sit in at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site close to the Indian parliament in central Delhi.
Wangchuk, who inspired a central character in the Bollywood film 3 Idiots and is widely respected for his work on education and environmental reform in Ladakh, joined the protest in solidarity with the movement. His involvement has significantly raised the profile of the demonstration, drawing national and international media attention to a campaign that began as a youth led online phenomenon.
Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike – Deteriorating Health And Mounting Pressure
According to figures shared by the Cockroach Janta Party, Wangchuk has lost around 8.5 kilograms since beginning his fast and has experienced a marked drop in blood pressure, raising serious concerns about his condition as the strike extends into its third week. His visibly weakened state has been widely reported and shared across social media, intensifying calls from across the political spectrum for the government to engage with the protesters’ demands.
Abhijeet Dipke, the Cockroach Janta Party founder, has said that organisers have repeatedly tried to persuade Wangchuk to withdraw from the hunger strike but that he remains determined to continue. Dipke has also indicated that the movement intends to press ahead with plans for a march on parliament scheduled for 20 July, regardless of Wangchuk’s condition. He has voiced concern that the government appears willing to allow those on hunger strike to face severe consequences rather than respond to their demands.
The situation was further complicated on Monday when another young protester at the site fainted during the demonstration and had to be taken to hospital, underscoring the physical toll the extended protest is taking on those involved.
Political Reaction
The exam paper leaks India scandal and the subsequent protest have drawn responses from several senior opposition politicians. Akhilesh Yadav, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, was among those who publicly urged Wangchuk to preserve his life, describing his commitment to humanity and the environment as being as significant as his commitment to democratic principles. Other opposition leaders have echoed similar appeals, framing the protest as a rare and notable challenge to the twelve year tenure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
Despite the mounting attention, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, his ministry and the government’s chief spokesperson have not issued an immediate response to requests for comment on the situation or on calls for the minister’s resignation.
What Comes Next
With the Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resignation demand still unmet and organisers preparing for a march on parliament later this month, the protest shows no sign of losing momentum. The coming days are likely to prove decisive, both for Wangchuk’s health and for the broader political pressure building around the government’s handling of the exam leak controversy. How the authorities respond, and whether Wangchuk can be persuaded to end his fast before his condition worsens further, remain the central questions as the standoff continues.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 15, 2026
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