Sonam Wangchuk Joins CJP Protest, Starts Indefinite Fast Over Alleged Exam Irregularities

Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Sunday joined the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and began an indefinite hunger strike over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET-UG controversy. Wangchuk has demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that the examination controversies have raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the country's education system.

Hundreds of students, youth and supporters gathered at the protest venue as Wangchuk commenced his fast. Several farmer leaders also participated in the demonstration, which began with a two-minute silence. Before launching the hunger strike, Wangchuk and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke visited Rajghat to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, describing the protest as a peaceful movement seeking accountability in the conduct of national-level examinations.

The CJP, which originated as a digital satirical platform, has been holding a sit-in at Jantar Mantar since June 20. The group has consistently demanded the resignation of the Education Minister, arguing that the alleged irregularities extend beyond a single examination and point to broader systemic issues. On Sunday, Dipke also alleged through a post on X that several farmer leaders from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab had been placed under house arrest to prevent them from joining the protest. These claims have not been independently verified.

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Earlier this week, Dipke announced that Wangchuk would join the agitation as part of a nationwide "Pradhan Go Back" campaign. He appealed to students, parents, teachers, farmer unions and civil society organisations to support the movement and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the minister's resignation. Dipke also accused the minister of failing to take responsibility for the alleged examination irregularities and called for greater accountability from the government.

The CJP further demanded compensation of ₹1 crore each for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide in connection with examination-related stress and controversies. Dipke also accused the police of failing to take action against individuals who allegedly attacked volunteers associated with the protest. The allegations have not received an official response from the authorities at the time of reporting.

The protest comes amid continuing controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination process, including allegations of a paper leak. According to the information provided, the National Testing Agency (NTA) cancelled the original examination held on May 3 and conducted a nationwide re-examination on June 21 under heightened security arrangements. The issue has triggered widespread debate over the integrity of competitive examinations and the need for stronger safeguards to ensure fairness and transparency.

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