Environmentalist and educator Sonam Wangchuk began a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Sunday, June 28, 2026, to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Joined by six student activists from the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the protest targets alleged irregularities in the examination system and calls for the repeal of the National Education Policy 2020.
The hunger strike follows a continuous protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at the site since June 20. Before starting the fast, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke stated on X that he and Wangchuk visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi.
Why are Sonam Wangchuk and students demanding the Minister’s resignation?
The protesters are seeking justice for students regarding alleged irregularities in the national examination system, including the medical entrance test, NEET. According to a statement from the All India Students’ Association (AISA), the group is also demanding the scrapping of the National Testing Agency and the repeal of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Which student leaders have joined the hunger strike?
Six students associated with the AISA have joined Wangchuk in the hunger strike. The participants include:
- Danish Ali, currently the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union joint secretary
- Hrishikesh, president, Barak Hostel, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Aameen, former Dr. B. R. Ambedkar University Delhi student council member
- Neha, AISA all-India president
- Manish, AISA U.P. president
- Deepak, the AISA Delhi University unit’s vice president
What is the dispute regarding Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar?
A disagreement has emerged over the provision of basic utilities at the protest site. Abhijeet Dipke alleged that the Delhi Police cut off water and sanitation facilities at Jantar Mantar following Wangchuk’s announcement of the strike. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, denied these claims online, calling them “falsehoods and misinformation” and stating that the police have no role in providing or maintaining such facilities.
What may happen as the protest continues?
Many others, including farm leaders, have joined the protest. The ongoing hunger strike by Wangchuk and the AISA members may lead to heightened pressure on the Union Education Ministry regarding the demands for systemic reforms and official resignations.
