New Delhi: A group of eminent citizens on Monday appealed to Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protesters on indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar to call off their fast, while extending full support to their demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. The personalities include writer Arundhati Roy, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah and economist Jayati Ghosh, among others.
In a joint statement, the signatories said they were "immensely grateful" to the protesters for leading the agitation against the government but expressed deep concern over their worsening health.
"We salute your sense of purpose, the determination and courage with which you are spearheading this movement for students and youth across the country," the statement said.
The appeal came on the 24th day of the Cockroach Janta Party's protest at Jantar Mantar and the 16th day of educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike.
According to the organisers, Wangchuk has lost 8.2 kilograms since he began fasting. His latest medical parameters showed a blood pressure of 107/70 mmHg and a blood glucose level of 67 mg/dL.
AISA activist Deepak, who was also on a hunger strike since June 28, was admitted to the RML Hospital on Monday after his health deteriorated.
Besides Roy, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah and Jayati Ghosh, the statement was signed by academics Anuradha Chenoy, Nivedita Menon, Tanika Sarkar and Aditya Nigam, filmmaker Sanjay Kak, activist Lalita Ramdas, Kavita Srivastava, feminist Madhu Bhushan and cultural practitioner Arundhati Ghosh.
Appealing to the protesters to end their fast, they said, "We request you to please consider ending this hunger strike immediately in the interests of the longer and more difficult struggle ahead. This battle is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need you, your strength and leadership in the days to come."
The signatories said they feared that the government's alleged failure to respond to the demands could further jeopardise the health of those on hunger strike.
"We worry that their negligence in responding to your demands will only worsen the already fragile state of health that many of you are in," they said.
The statement also appealed to the people of Delhi to participate in the CJP's proposed march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the commencement of the monsoon session of Parliament.