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Informist, Friday, Jul. 17, 2026

NEW DELHI – Activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose indefinite hunger strike entered its 20th day on Friday, said he hoped he would keep alive to lead a march to Parliament House on Monday, and indicated that his struggle would continue, with or without him. Wangchuk and activists from the Cockroach Janta Party have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over a pre-medical examination paper leak and other irregularities in the education system.

A visibly frail Wangchuk took a microphone to address the crowd at Jantar Mantar from the dais. "I am weak from outside, but I am very strong from inside," he said, as the crowd cheered. "I am sure you guys are strong from outside as well as inside. We will need this strength on Jul. 20, when we will peacefully march to Parliament House." The Cockroach Janta Party posted a video clip of the address on its social media handle.

The objective, he said, was to make their grievances heard in the "temple of democracy".  He then asked the crowd if it would accompany him in the march. As the crowd shouted a loud "yes", Wangchuk added, "All right, then. I will somehow keep alive till Jul. 20. But if this fails, I will come back as a ghost."

The monsoon session of Parliament is set to begin on Monday.

Over the past few days, a number of prominent Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, and Indian National Congress MP Pawan Khera, have come to meet Wangchuk and express solidarity with his cause.

Several political leaders, celebrities, and prominent personalities have publicly urged Wangchuk to end his fast after reports of his deteriorating health started pouring in after a fortnight of continuous fasting, even as there was no response from the government. Wangchuk, however, has firmly declined to end his hunger strike. Several young students are also fasting with Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar and doctors gave expressed concern about their health as well.  End

Reported by Asim Khan

Edited by Avishek Dutta

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