New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk is suffering from muscle loss and is in "immense pain", but has refused to end his hunger strike as leaders from across the political spectrum and several celebrities on Tuesday appealed to him to call off his 17-day fast and urged the government to initiate dialogue.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been protesting at Jantar Mantar for the past 25 days over the NEET issue, unveiled a five-point examination reform charter and claimed that support for its agitation was growing across political parties.
Wangchuk loses 8.5 kg
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said Wangchuk has been losing muscle mass and is in "immense pain", adding that the activist has lost 8.5 kg since the beginning of his fast.
"He has started losing muscle mass and is in immense pain. Like everyone else, I begged him to end his fast. He calmly replied, 'Don't ask me to end my fast. Ask the government why they won't even have a dialogue,'" Dipke said in a post on X.
The health of several protesters who have joined Wangchuk's hunger strike has also deteriorated.
All India Students' Association (AISA) activist Deepak, who was admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Monday after his health deteriorated, was discharged on Tuesday morning.
The organisation said its remaining activists — Neha, Manish and Aameen — continued their indefinite fast at a separate stage at the protest site.
What is CJP's five-point exam reform charter?
Addressing a press conference, CJP spokesperson Vaishnavi unveiled the five-point examination reform charter, calling for structural changes to India's public examination system.
She alleged that despite repeated paper leaks over the past decade, there was no official database of such incidents and "virtually no accountability", adding that there had not been a single conviction under the Public Examinations Act.
Among its key proposals, the charter seeks the replacement of the existing law with a Public Examinations (Transparency, Accountability and Candidates' Rights) Act, the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA), the creation of a statutory National Testing Commission, mandatory CAG audits of examination agencies, an independent Examinations Ombudsman, a Students' Rights Charter and a National Aspirants' Welfare Fund.
The CJP has been holding the protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
The CJP has also intensified preparations for its proposed 'Chalo Sansad' march on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session, and urged supporters to register through its missed-call campaign.
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said more than 1.3 lakh people have registered their support for the proposed Parliament march through the campaign.
TMC, SP, AAP leaders appeal to Wangchuk to end protest
As Wangchuk's health continued to deteriorate, several leaders, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, appealed to the activist to end his fast.
Mamata Banerjee spoke to Wangchuk over the phone to enquire about his health, urged him to stay strong and extended solidarity to the CJP's movement seeking justice for students.
Akhilesh Yadav took to X to appeal to Wangchuk.
"We humbly request and earnestly appeal to Shri Sonam Wangchuk ji to break his fast. His life is invaluable to the entire world because it embodies the same commitment to humanity and the environment as it does to democracy," Yadav posted.
"The BJP government, which he is attempting to awaken through his fast unto death, is itself a principle-less and corrupt system. In its insensitivity and heartlessness, the sacrifice of anyone holds no significance; therefore, expecting any sense of propriety or change of heart from BJP members is utterly futile," he said.
"For them, no one's life holds any value. For them, money is paramount. They are intoxicated with the arrogance of wealth earned through corruption. Hoping for change in them is in vain. Those who are arrogant cannot be refined," he added.
Kejriwal addressed a press conference in Delhi and extended his support to Wangchuk and the CJP protest.
"Sonam Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for several days and his health is deteriorating. He is an asset to the country, and I appeal to him to end his hunger strike. There are other ways to continue the struggle," the former Delhi chief minister said.
Veteran actor Zeenat Aman appealed to the government to open a dialogue with Wangchuk, saying India should not "sit back and watch one of its greatest minds be sacrificed".
"We must not become a society that sits back and watches one of its greatest minds be sacrificed. India has a long history of peaceful protest; those who wield power are obliged to meet such protest with peaceful dialogue," Aman wrote.
"With respect to Mr Wangchuk's wishes, I implore the Indian government to open dialogue on this matter that concerns the future of all India," she added.
Actor Omi Vaidya, best known for playing Chatur "Silencer" Ramalingam in 3 Idiots, urged people to pay attention to Wangchuk's deteriorating health, saying he did not want the activist to die.
Vaidya shared a video on X to draw attention to Wangchuk's situation.
"I don't want him to die. Hello, idiots, pehchana? This is Omi Vaidya, Chatur from 3 Idiots. I have an important message for you. I don't really do this very often, so please listen up," he said.
Vaidya reminded viewers that Aamir Khan's character Phunsukh Wangdu in 3 Idiots was inspired by Wangchuk, describing him as a "humble" and "pretty impressive person".
"I suggest you look it up and see what he is up to because right now he is on a very long hunger strike. It has been going on for several weeks, and his blood sugar has dropped significantly.
"I don't know if you have heard about this or if the media is reporting it, but this is a pretty important issue. Why is he on a hunger strike? He has concerns about the education system in India. Whether you agree with him or not, I don't want him to die," the actor said.
The CJP said it had reached out to leaders across party lines, including JP Nadda and Rahul Gandhi, inviting them to Jantar Mantar to stand in solidarity with the youth.
In a post on X, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das said he and Dipke invited the leaders on July 9 and 10 to join their peaceful protest against the alleged NEET paper leak, which has now entered its 25th day.
