National, July 17: Educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday vowed to continue his indefinite hunger strike until July 20 despite doctors warning that his condition had become critical, as Congress leader Pawan Khera joined a growing number of political leaders supporting the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) agitation over alleged examination irregularities.
The protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 28th day on Friday, while Wangchuk’s hunger strike reached its 20th day. Addressing supporters, Wangchuk acknowledged his declining health but said he was determined to continue the fast until the organisation’s proposed march to Parliament on July 20.
“I am weak from the outside but very strong inside. We need this energy for July 20, when we will take out a peaceful march to Parliament and present our plea in the temple of democracy,” he said. In a lighter moment, Wangchuk remarked, “I will stay alive till July 20 at any cost. If you don’t come and July 20 is not successful, I will come back as a ghost,” drawing applause from those present.
According to the latest medical bulletin, Wangchuk lost another 350 grams during the past 24 hours, taking his total weight loss to around 9.5 kg since beginning the fast on June 28. His current weight stands at 56.55 kg. Doctors recorded his blood pressure at 108/68 mm Hg, blood sugar at 80 mg/dL, pulse rate at 72 beats per minute and oxygen saturation at 96 per cent. Although he remained mentally alert, doctors noted signs of mild dehydration.
Medical experts had warned a day earlier that the prolonged hunger strike had entered a critical stage and could lead to organ damage if it continued. Despite the warning, Wangchuk maintained that ending the fast without any response from the government would send the wrong message and urged supporters to ensure a massive turnout for the July 20 march to Parliament.
The Delhi High Court has directed the authorities to monitor Wangchuk’s health on a daily basis and provide immediate medical care if his condition deteriorates further.
Meanwhile, the health of three members of the CPI(ML) Liberation-affiliated All India Students’ Association (AISA), who are also on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, has worsened. AISA said activist Aameen faced the risk of hypovolemic shock due to dehydration, Neha’s blood sugar had dropped to a critical 49 mg/dL, and Manish had lost more than 10 per cent of his body weight. The organisation said all three would continue their fast in solidarity with Wangchuk.
Political support for the agitation continued to expand, with Congress leader Pawan Khera visiting Wangchuk and other protesters on Friday. His visit followed that of Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, who had urged the Centre to initiate dialogue with the protesters.
Several opposition leaders, including Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, have also expressed concern over Wangchuk’s health and backed the proposed Parliament march.
The movement has additionally received support from actor Prakash Raj, former Delhi chief minister Atishi, Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose, CPI(M) MP Amra Ram, senior CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, former Kerala ministers K K Shailaja, Thomas Isaac, K N Balagopal and P Rajeev, Tripura Leader of Opposition Jitendra Chaudhury, Samajwadi Party MPs Pushpendra Saroj and Priya Saroj, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, NCP MLA Rohit Pawar and Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Gurnam Singh Charuni.
A group of eminent citizens, including writer Arundhati Roy, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, economist Jayati Ghosh and several academics, also extended support to the protesters’ demands while appealing to Wangchuk to end his hunger strike.
The CJP has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide in connection with the issue. The organisation has called for a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The protest began on June 20, and Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28, remaining on an indefinite hunger strike ever since.
