Sonam Wangchuk loses 8.25 kg on day 16 of hunger strike, blood sugar drops below 70, says Cockroach Janta Party

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on 13 July expressed grave concern over the deteriorating health of education reform activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has now completed 16 days of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.

Wangchuk, 59, has lost 8.25 kg, his blood sugar levels have repeatedly fallen below 70 mg/dL (normal fasting levels are around 100 mg/dL), and he is experiencing constant dizziness, severe muscle loss and visible weakness, with his rib cage now clearly visible, Dipke said.

“What kind of government is this? Sonam Wangchuk belongs to this country. He has brought global recognition to India through his work. Today, he is fighting for the students of this country, yet the government has not even sent a single minister or delegation to speak with him. The government’s complete indifference is deeply unfortunate,” Dipke said.

Day 24 of CJP protest

The Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi over alleged examination irregularities entered its 24rth day on Monday. The CJP protest began on June 20, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite hunger strike since then.

“I don’t know how much longer Sonam sir can hold on. He keeps telling us he can. But those of us sitting beside him are terribly worried,” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das wrote in an earluer post on X adding that things are looking ‘grimmer’ by the day.

Another CJP spokesperson Vijeta Dahiya said during Monday's press breifing that it would be impossible to ask Wangchuk to withdraw while the government continues to ignore the students whose lives have been devastated by repeated examination failures.

CJP launches a missed call campaign

Dahiya urged citizens across the country to participate in the peaceful Parliament March on 20th July, stating that only a strong public mobilisation would compel the government to engage with the movement.

To mobilise support, the CJP has launched a missed call campaign, inviting students and citizens to register their participation by giving a missed call to 70116 70115. The party also appeals to people across the country to display the “I Support Sonam” campaign graphic on their social media profiles and join the movement both online and on the ground.

The CJP appealED to students, parents and citizens across India to join the peaceful march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on 20th July alongside Sonam Wangchuk.

“The movement will continue until justice is delivered to students affected by repeated examination failures, accountability is fixed, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns,” the campaign said in its statement.

‘Just an ordinary citizen’

On Saturday, Wangchuk had urged people not to look for heroes in others, saying he was "just an ordinary citizen", not a "modern Gandhi" or a hero.

"Please don't look for a hero in someone else. Be the hero of your own life. Fulfil your responsibilities as a citizen," he said in a video posted on X. Wangchuk also appealed to people to join the march to Parliament on July 20.