Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 16: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on the 19th day of his hunger strike as part of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protests, has appealed to supporters to join the movement instead of urging him to end his fast.
In a video message shared on Instagram late Wednesday, Wangchuk said he had received thousands of messages requesting him to break his fast, including appeals from senior politicians and legal representatives.
"Even if I eat, what will change and what message will go? The message will go to the government that there is no need to answer the protesters," he said, explaining his decision to continue the protest.
The 59-year-old activist assured supporters that his health condition remained stable, stating that medical tests showed his health was "quite normal for an 18-day fast".
He acknowledged experiencing weakness and muscle fatigue but said his heart and vital functions remained fine.
"Instead of just saying 'break the fast', I would request you take a small step. Come in large numbers on July 20, the day of the CJP protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, so a message goes to the government," Wangchuk said.
He urged students from schools and colleges to participate in the protest and called on people to collectively raise their concerns with Members of Parliament.
Wangchuk's statement came after a petition was filed before the Delhi High Court claiming that his health could deteriorate significantly within 48 hours if he continued fasting. The plea sought directions for medical intervention, including forced feeding, citing concerns over his condition.
The activist had earlier undertaken a hunger strike in September demanding statehood for Ladakh, though the planned 35-day protest was called off after two weeks following violent demonstrations.
The CJP, led by Abhijit Dipke, has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in competitive examinations, including the NEET-UG examination held on May 3.