Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk during his indefinite hunger strike, amid an ongoing protest by Cockroach Janata Party
NEW DELHI: Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s health deteriorated further on Sunday as his indefinite hunger strike at the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest site at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar entered its 15th day.Doctors reported a further drop in his blood pressure to 104/66 mm Hg and said he has lost 7.8 kg since beginning the fast. A video shared by CJP founder Abhishek Dipke with the caption, “Day 15 of Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike. When will the government wake up????” s howed Wangchuk lying visibly weak, highlighting the toll the prolonged hunger strike has taken on his health.The protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 23rd day on Sunday, with Wangchuk completing the 15th day of his indefinite fast after joining the agitation on June 28.The organisation said several political leaders and public intellectuals were scheduled to visit the protest site during the day to express solidarity with the agitation. Former Kerala ministers K K Shylaja, K N Balagopal and P Rajeev were expected to interact with protesters, while Samajwadi Party MP Pushpendra Saroj was scheduled to address the gathering.The day’s programme was also set to conclude with a public lecture by economist Jayati Ghosh on “The Economics of Unemployment”, focusing on the employment crisis and its impact on young people. Members of the CPI(ML) Liberation-affiliated All India Students’ Association (AISA), Neha, Manish, Deepak Kumar Verma and Aameen, continued their own indefinite hunger strike on a separate stage at the protest venue.On Saturday, Wangchuk appealed to people not to place him on a pedestal and instead take responsibility as citizens.”Please don’t look for a hero in someone else. Be the hero of your own life. Fulfil your responsibilities as a citizen,” he had said in a video posted on X.He also urged people to participate in the proposed march to Parliament on July 20, calling on citizens to come together and press Members of Parliament to address issues related to the alleged examination irregularities.The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Rs 1 crore in compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide over examination irregularities. The organisation has also announced a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session.The CJP’s protest began on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation eight days later and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike ever since.
