Sonam Wangchuk entered the seventh day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) claiming that his health has deteriorated significantly during the protest.

According to CJP leaders, Wangchuk has lost nearly five kilograms since beginning the fast in support of students demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities. The protest, which has now entered its 15th day, continues to draw attention from political leaders, student groups, and civil society organisations.

CJP Renews Demand for Education Minister's Resignation

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said Wangchuk's health was worsening with each passing day and renewed the party's demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In a series of posts on social media, Dipke questioned why action had not yet been taken against the minister despite allegations related to examination irregularities. He also alleged that the government would be responsible if Wangchuk's condition worsened further during the indefinite fast.

The party has maintained that its protest will continue until concrete action is taken regarding the issues raised by students and education activists.

Wangchuk Links Education Accountability With Public Trust

Despite his deteriorating health, Wangchuk reiterated his call for greater accountability within India's education system. In a social media post, he welcomed recent progress in discussions between the Central Government and representatives from Ladakh regarding the region's governance-related demands.

At the same time, he urged the government to give similar attention to concerns surrounding education and examination reforms, stating that transparency and accountability are essential for maintaining public trust in educational institutions.

Talks on Ladakh Move Forward

Wangchuk's comments came after representatives of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) announced progress in discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The two organisations said differences over the minutes of an earlier meeting had been resolved, allowing the next round of formal negotiations on Ladakh's proposed governance framework to move forward.

Leaders from both LAB and KDA credited Wangchuk's hunger strike with helping revive dialogue between the Centre and Ladakh representatives after months of stalled discussions.

Student Protest Continues Alongside Hunger Strike

Meanwhile, six students associated with the All India Students' Association (AISA) continued their own hunger strike at a separate stage near the main protest site at Jantar Mantar.

The wider protest has received support from several political leaders, lawyers, student organisations, and social activists. Among those expressing solidarity are leaders from the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), as well as activists Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Anjali Bhardwaj, Nikhil Dey, and Members of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress.