Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike CJP Protest: 22 Days Without Food
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since June 28 in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, entered a critical phase on Monday as his health continued to deteriorate following 22 days without food, even as the CJP’s Chalo Sansad march brought the movement to its most dramatic flashpoint yet.
The Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike CJP protest has drawn international attention, with several global outlets covering his fast, which has seen him lose 8.5 kilograms as of last week. His condition has worsened to the point where opposition leaders have publicly urged him to end the fast, even as Wangchuk himself has remained adamant about continuing until his conditions are met.
Wangchuk had set a clear deadline ahead of Monday’s Chalo Sansad march, stating he would end his fast on July 20 if the government took accountability for recent failures in the education system, or if he and the CJP leadership were allowed to reach Parliament where MPs would assure them the issue would be raised during the Monsoon Session.
Wangchuk Forcibly Taken to Hospital, Partner Allegedly Assaulted
On Saturday, July 18, two days before the Chalo Sansad march, Delhi Police forcibly took Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike. The removal from the protest site was described by the CJP as an attempt by authorities to break the momentum of the movement ahead of the planned march to Parliament.
Wangchuk’s partner, Gitanjali Angmo, alleged that her hair was pulled and that she was assaulted by Delhi Police during the incident at Jantar Mantar. The CJP described the removal as a brutal crackdown and said Gitanjali Angmo had been physically assaulted while attempting to accompany Wangchuk, allegations that drew sharp reactions from opposition leaders who accused the government of suppressing a legitimate democratic agitation through state force.
Who Is Sonam Wangchuk and Why Is He Fasting
Sonam Wangchuk is a Ramon Magsaysay Award-winning engineer, educational reformist, and activist from Ladakh who has become one of the most recognised faces of civil society activism in India in recent years. He first rose to national prominence through his work in education reform in Ladakh and his innovative approach to water conservation, and has since been at the forefront of campaigns for Ladakh’s statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
Wangchuk’s decision to fast in solidarity with the CJP protest reflects his broader commitment to issues of youth unemployment, educational equity, and institutional accountability. Having led multiple hunger strikes over the years, including a 21-day fast for Ladakh’s statehood, he brings both credibility and significant media attention to any cause he associates himself with, making his participation in the CJP campaign a major boost for the movement’s national profile.
The Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike CJP protest has been ongoing since June 28, making it one of the longest sustained hunger strikes by a prominent Indian activist in recent years. His conditions for ending the fast are centred on government accountability for the NEET paper leak and the NEET-UG 2026 cancellation that affected 22 lakh students.
What Happens Next
As of Monday July 20, the conditions for Wangchuk ending his fast remained unresolved. The government’s response through Health Minister JP Nadda’s meeting with CJP representatives indicated a willingness to discuss demands, but fell short of the direct accountability and specific commitments that Wangchuk had set as his conditions for breaking the fast.
With his health continuing to deteriorate after 22 days without food, the coming days are likely to be critical both for Wangchuk’s personal wellbeing and for the broader trajectory of the CJP protest movement, which has now entered its most visible and politically charged phase since its founding earlier this year.
Also Read: Sonam Wangchuk Hospitalised After Health Deteriorates on Day 21 of Hunger Strike Amid Major Protest
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