SONAM WANGCHUK ON DAY 4 OF HUNGER STRIKE AT JANTAR MANTAR, HEALTH MONITORED AS PROTEST OVER EXAM IRREGULARITIES CONTINUES
New Delhi, 01 July 2026
Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk entered the fourth day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday, as the Cockroach Janata Party’s protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan continued. In a self-reported update, Wangchuk said he was “feeling ok, bit tired though,” and added that doctors had noted low blood pressure and advised increased water and salt intake. His blood sugar level was recorded at 66 mg/dL on the third day, which medical personnel at the site attributed to three days without food as ketosis set in. He stated that he had lost about 2 kg at the rate of roughly 650 grams per day and maintained that he was “nowhere near” the stage where a prolonged fast would begin consuming muscles and organs. Wangchuk also said his personal discomfort was “nothing compared to the 20+ students who gave their lives and the 5 youths who died in Ladakh last September,” and ended his message with “Jai Hind” and the hashtags #SonamWangchuk #CJP #CockroachJantaParty.
Doctors examining Wangchuk on Tuesday morning recorded a temperature in the normal range, blood pressure at 117/60 mmHg, oxygen saturation at 96 percent, pulse at 92 per minute, and blood sugar at 66 mg/dL. The doctor monitoring him rejected social media claims that he had consumed food during the fast, saying the low sugar reading did not support that theory and that repeat testing would further confirm it. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Wangchuk’s condition must be taken seriously and warned that any adverse outcome would make the Education Minister “directly responsible.”
Wangchuk began the indefinite fast on Sunday, June 28, at the Jantar Mantar protest site after giving the government a June 27 deadline to address at least one of his two demands while speaking from Geneva. He is backing the CJP’s call for accountability over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and other exam-related issues, and for stronger environmental and cultural protections for Ladakh. Before starting the fast, he and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. Wangchuk said he had been compelled to join the protest because education had been central to his work for 40 years and that when young people raised concerns about the system, “how could I have remained silent.”
The 59-year-old activist from Ladakh is a Ramon Magsaysay Award winner known for founding SECMOL and for his climate and education work in the Himalayas. He has previously led prolonged agitations for Ladakh’s statehood and Sixth Schedule status, including a 21-day hunger strike in March 2024. The current Jantar Mantar demonstration began on June 20 over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. Organisers allege heavy police deployment and restrictions on supporters entering the venue, while Delhi Police have denied claims that basic facilities were cut off. At least six student activists have joined Wangchuk on hunger strike, and CJP has said the protest will continue until there is a government response.
