New Delhi: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk‘s indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered its second day on Monday, intensifying the ongoing protest over alleged examination irregularities and adding fresh momentum to the nationwide debate on accountability, transparency and democratic rights.
The protest, being spearheaded by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) since June 20, has drawn significant support from students, farmers and members of civil society. Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in examinations.
Hundreds of protesters, particularly students and youth, gathered at Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with Wangchuk, whose indefinite fast began on Sunday. Several farmer leaders also joined the agitation, underscoring the growing public participation in the movement.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged that Delhi Police denied permission for installing a portable toilet for Wangchuk at the protest site. He further claimed that public toilets at Jantar Mantar were functioning without adequate water supply, raising concerns over basic facilities for peaceful protesters.
In a post shared on social media platform X, Dipke highlighted what he described as increasing public support for the movement, sharing the story of a participant who reportedly travelled from Bihar on a general train ticket to join the protest.
Before commencing his hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk, accompanied by Dipke, visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, reaffirming the protest’s commitment to non-violent democratic traditions.
Dipke also alleged that several farmer leaders from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab were placed under house arrest to prevent them from participating in the demonstration. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding these claims.
The ongoing agitation has once again brought issues such as Education Reform, Examination Transparency, Student Rights, Democratic Protest, Climate Activism, Public Accountability, Youth Movement, Civil Society, Jantar Mantar Protest, Sonam Wangchuk, New Delhi Politics and Governance into the national spotlight.
