Indian activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on hunger strike in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has reported a weight loss of 11kg but said he is “still alive.”
Wangchuk, a central figure in the youth‑led movement demanding education reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, was forcibly removed from a protest site at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday and taken to hospital.
Medical professionals at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram confirmed that Wangchuk was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) on Wednesday, according to BBC.
A hospital statement said he is under the care of a multidisciplinary team and remains stable, oriented, and within normal vital parameters. Prior to hospitalisation, the activist had survived 21 days in extreme heat consuming only water and salt.
The protest movement has intensified following a violent police crackdown on Monday’s march to Parliament, which left 60 protesters and 118 police officers injured.
Despite authorities dismantling their stage and tents, thousands of demonstrators continue a round‑the‑clock sit‑in at Jantar Mantar. Anger has grown further after the closure of 16 Delhi metro stations, which protesters claim was intended to block access to the site.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not engaged directly with the demonstrators but wrote on X that the government would establish fast‑track courts to ensure “stringent punishment” for those involved in exam paper leaks.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka criticised the response, calling it “applying medicine after an injury” and questioning why such leaks occur in the first place.
The CJP, which grew out of a satirical movement inspired by a controversial remark from India’s chief justice, insists Education Minister Pradhan must take moral responsibility for repeated exam failures.
While Wangchuk’s recent messages omitted the demand for Pradhan’s resignation, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the demand remains “non‑negotiable.”
