CJP founder Abhijit Dipke Activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar during day 17 of the indefinite hunger strike on July 14, 2026. Photo: X/@abhijeet_dipke
Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s health worsened on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) as his indefinite hunger strike entered its 17th day on Tuesday (July 14, 2026). Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke said in a post on X that Mr. Wangchuk “has started losing muscle mass and is in immense pain”.
“ Like everyone else, I begged him to end his fast,” Mr. Dipke added.
“He calmly replied, ‘Don’t ask me to end my fast. Ask the govt why they won’t even have a dialogue.’,” Mr. Dipke said on X.
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As per reports on Monday (July 13, 2026), Mr. Wangchuk has already lost 8.25 kg, the Cockroach Janta Party said.
A group of eminent citizens, including writer Arundhati Roy, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, and economist Jayati Ghosh, appealed to protesters on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to call off their fast, while extending full support to their demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
In a joint statement on Monday (July 13, 2026), the signatories said they were “immensely grateful” to the protesters for leading the agitation against the government but expressed deep concern over their worsening health.
I am not Gandhi; be your own hero: Wangchuk amid indefinite fast
“We salute your sense of purpose, the determination and courage with which you are spearheading this movement for students and youth across the country,” the statement said.
Appealing to the protesters to end their fast, they said, “We request you to please consider ending this hunger strike immediately in the interests of the longer and more difficult struggle ahead. This battle is a marathon, not a sprint, and we need you, your strength and leadership in the days to come.” The signatories said they feared that the government’s alleged failure to respond to the demands could further jeopardise the health of those on hunger strike.
“We worry that their negligence in responding to your demands will only worsen the already fragile state of health that many of you are in,” they said.
The appeal came on Monday (July 14, 2026), the 24th day of the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar and the 16th day of educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike.
His latest medical parameters showed a blood pressure of 107/70 mmHg and a blood glucose level of 67 mg/dL.
AISA activist Deepak, who was also on a hunger strike since June 28, was admitted to the RML Hospital on Monday (July 13, 2026) after his health deteriorated.
The statement also appealed to the people of Delhi to participate in the CJP’s proposed march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the commencement of the monsoon session of Parliament.
Besides Ms. Roy, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah and Jayati Ghosh, the statement was signed by academics Anuradha Chenoy, Nivedita Menon, Tanika Sarkar and Aditya Nigam, filmmaker Sanjay Kak, activist Lalita Ramdas, Kavita Srivastava, feminist Madhu Bhushan and cultural practitioner Arundhati Ghosh.
The CJP has been holding a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Mr. Pradhan’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Mr. Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite fast since then. The organisation has announced a march to Parliament on July 20.
(With inputs from PTI)
Published – July 14, 2026 12:07 pm IST
