Protests led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) against alleged paper leaks are set to continue at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar despite calls for activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his ongoing hunger strike. CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka confirmed on Wednesday that while they support a resolution to Wangchuk’s fast, their core demands—including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—remain unchanged.
Status of Protests and Demands
The CJP has maintained its presence at Jantar Mantar following a march to Parliament on Monday that resulted in injuries to both protesters and police. According to spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, the movement’s primary objectives are the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a compensation package of Rs 1 crore for families of students who died by suicide linked to the NEET paper leak. A new demand has emerged following the Monday march: the party is now calling for the government to guarantee that no fabricated legal action will be taken against the organizers or participants of the demonstration.
Conflicting Reports on Injuries
The scale of violence during Monday’s march remains a point of contention. The Delhi Police reported that over 118 police personnel sustained injuries during the event. In an interview with NDTV, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das disputed the severity of these injuries, citing information he claimed to have received from doctors. Das stated that “98%” of the injured officers suffered only minor soft tissue injuries consistent with pushing in a large crowd. Conversely, the CJP alleges that protesters suffered more severe injuries, including broken bones and head trauma, during what they described as a largely peaceful demonstration.
Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike
Engineer and activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since June 28, has signaled a potential path to ending his fast. On Wednesday, Wangchuk wrote to the Centre stating he would cease his protest if the government provides an assurance that those who participated in the Parliament march will not face punitive legal action. CJP leadership expressed support for this move, citing concerns for Wangchuk’s health. However, Das clarified that even if Wangchuk ends his fast, the CJP’s broader protest will continue until their specific demands regarding the education system and the Education Minister are addressed.
Political Context and Potential Next Steps
The protest has drawn attention from other political organizations, including the Congress, which held a separate sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s residence on Tuesday. When asked about potential political rivalry, Ranka stated that the CJP does not view the matter as a competition, noting that any organization advocating for the youth is welcome to join the cause. As of Wednesday, there have been no further talks between the CJP and the Centre since an initial meeting with Health Minister JP Nadda on Monday.
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