‘Dharmendra Pradhan directly responsible,' says CJP as hunger strike enters Day 4 and Sonam Wangchuk's health worsens 

Environmentalist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk's health is reported to have worsened on the third day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, which has led to a sharp political response from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been holding Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan to account for the activist's condition.

The development is coming as an ongoing protest calls for increased accountability in the Indian education system and the resignation of the Union Education Minister due to alleged irregularities in competitive exams.

CJP Expresses Concerns about Wangchuk's Health.

As the activist went on an indefinite fast, his blood sugar level fell to 66, which is below the normal range, on Tuesday, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said.

In response to the health update, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka tweeted on social media that Dharmendra Pradhan would be "directly responsible" in case of any mishap to Wangchuk, further adding fuel to the political fire surrounding the protest.

The hunger strike, which started on Sunday, is now in a critical stage as the supporters have continued to gather at Jantar Mantar, expressing concern over Wangchuk's health and reiterating demands for accountability in the education sector.

Why is Sonam Wangchuk on hunger strike?

Wangchuk joined the protest after saying that education has been one of his lifelong concerns and he could not sit back and watch students raise doubts about the credibility of the examination system in India.

The protest is focused on the complaints about irregularities in competitive exams, such as those after the NEET paper leak incident. Demonstrators want more transparency, institutional accountability and reform to restore public trust in the examination process.

At the protest, Wangchuk said, “Education and environment are my issues, truth and peace is my path, justice is my destination.”

The activist also connected the movement with his long-standing environmental activism in Ladakh, saying that accountability of public institutions in both education and environmental governance is needed.

Protest Goes Past Education

The current agitation has gone beyond issues of examinations, CJP said. The movement now aims to gain broader accountability in public institutions and democratic processes, organisers said.

Wangchuk visited Rajghat with CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke prior to his indefinite fast to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. The protest officially started with a two-minute silence, representing the organisers' pledge to peaceful and democratic means of protest.

The demonstration has since attracted students, civil society members and farmer leaders, and numbers have been growing steadily in recent days.

"Never Make Anyone Bigger Than the Issue"

Though Wangchuk has become the spokesman for this movement, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had asked the protesters to not let the campaign be about a single person. 

Speaking to supporters, Dipke urged discussion of the broader issues of educational accountability, not personalities. He said the mission of the movement was to bring about systemic change and encouraged the participants to make sure that the cause was larger than the individual leading it.

A Protest Being Closely Watched

Sonam Wangchuk's health is being closely monitored and now the focus is on the government's response to the escalating protest. The hunger strike is one of the most closely watched education related protests in the country, as demands for education reforms, accountability, and transparency keep rising.

It is yet to be seen if the agitation will result in any policy changes, but the poor health of one of the most recognisable voices of the movement has given the ongoing debate on the future of India's education system an added urgency.