Activist Sonam Wangchuk, on the 23rd day of her fast, said she will continue her hunger strike until the youth leaders are allowed to meet MPs. The youth are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak.
New Delhi [भारत]July 20 (ANI): On Monday, the 23rd day of her long fast, activist Sonam Wangchuk insisted that she will continue her hunger strike until the youth leaders are allowed to meet MPs at the Parliament House or are allowed to meet them at Safdarjung Hospital, where she is admitted.
In an Instagram post, Wangchuk praised the youth for maintaining peace and order despite “provocations” during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak controversy.
Wangchuk’s appeal to the government
He said, “I will continue my fast. Given the brutality with which the youth who are protesting peacefully are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the MPs in the Parliament House or I am allowed to meet them here in the hospital. Hopefully, the government will hold the Education Minister accountable by then. I am impressed and emotional that the youth have maintained peace despite the provocations.”
Wangchuk also appealed to the government and police to allow students to present their grievances before Parliament. He said, “I appeal to the government and the police force to resolve this issue today or tomorrow by allowing the students to present their grievances before the Parliament. I am sure that the young protesters will show the same patience and tolerance tomorrow as they showed today.”
Lathi charge on protesters
The statement came after Delhi Police resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse a huge crowd of protesters marching from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament on the first day of the monsoon session. Delhi Police personnel were also injured while dispersing the protesters near Parliament Street.
Meanwhile, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke ended his indefinite hunger strike on the request of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is currently admitted in Safdarjung Hospital. Dipke began the fast on July 18 after Wangchuk was hospitalized after Wangchuk’s 21-day hunger strike required medical intervention.
Security was beefed up in New Delhi district in view of the onset of monsoon session, and prohibitory orders under section 163 of the Indian Civil Defense Code (BNSS) remained in force.
Delhi Police personnel were injured while dispersing protesters near Parliament Street. A sub-inspector of Delhi Police said, “We were standing near the barricades, stones were thrown from their (protesters) side.” (ANI)
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