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Informist, Monday, Jul. 20, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – Activist Sonam Wangchuk announced Monday evening from his hospital bed that he will continue his hunger strike until the protesting youth leaders are allowed to enter Parliament House, or he is allowed to meet members of Parliament at the hospital. His announcement came after a day's protest in central Delhi where hundreds of thousands turned up and hordes of youth tried to reach Parliament House to demand Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.

 

The police caned protesters and fired tear gas at several places to disperse the crowds. Several young men and women complained of being thrashed by the police and showed bruises on their bodies. Several video clips on social media showed police and paramilitary personnel beating protestors with batons and firing tear gas shells.  

 

"Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast," a hand-written note from Wangchuk, which was shared on his X handle, read. Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since Jun. 28 at Jantar Mantar. He was forcibly taken away and admitted to Safdarjung Hospital by the police Saturday.

 

He said in the note that he would continue the fast "until the youth leaders are allowed to the parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital... Hopefully, government will fix accountability of the education minister before that."

 

Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party had given a "Sansad Chalo" call to present their grievances at the "temple of democracy" on the first day of the Monsoon Session. Wangchuk and CJP, a youth movement, have been demanding Pradhan's resignation as minister over the alleged pre-medical exam paper leak and other irregularities in the education system.

 

Wangchuk appealed to the government to resolve the issue "by simply allowing the students to present their grievances before Parliament".

 

Earlier in the day, Cockroach Janta Party spokespersons Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda at his residence and presented a memorandum of three demands: Wangchuk's "immediate release", Pradhan's resignation, and INR 10 million compensation for the families of all medical aspirants who had died by suicide after the question paper leak.

 

"Nadda ji has requested some time to align with their leadership with regards to our demands," Ranka posted on X.

 

Around 1600 IST, security forces launched an unsparing crackdown at the Jantar Mantar protest site and chased protesters away. They also dismantled the main dais and small makeshift tents protesters had set up over the past three weeks. The police then drove away crowds from roads and lanes connecting Jantar Mantar and from nearby places.

 

Tired, bruised, and many of them barefoot--with footwear likely left behind in the melee following the police action--youths could be seen loitering in Connaught Place. Several shops locked their glass doors from inside as they looked apprehensively at the hordes of men outside. However, a constant police presence and patrolling prevented any untoward incident.

 

Later, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali Angmo continued their sit-in protest outside Kerala House.  End

 

Reported by Asim Khan

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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