Jantar Mantar Crisis: Sonam Wangchuk’s Health Plummets Dangerously as Exam Protest Crosses 24 Days
The ongoing agitation against alleged discrepancies in national competitive examinations has escalated into a severe medical emergency at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the demonstration to demand systemic accountability, is facing rapid physical deterioration as his indefinite hunger strike enters its third week.
Medical Bulletin Alerts Critical Drop in Vitals
According to the latest health update released by the organisers, Wangchuk's vital parameters have reached alarming levels after 16 consecutive days of fasting. The 59-year-old reformer has recorded a total weight loss of 8.2 kg. Doctors monitoring his condition report that his blood glucose level has plunged to a critical 67 mg/dL. In contrast, his blood pressure has dropped to 107/70 mm Hg, causing severe weakness and raising risks of metabolic complications.
Protester Hospitalised with Hypovolemic Shock
The hunger strike, organised in tandem with the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 24-day-long sit-in, has already resulted in severe casualties among student leadership. Deepak, a prominent activist from the All India Students' Association (AISA), had to be rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital after his health collapsed following 16 days of fasting. Medical staff confirmed that Deepak suffered from hypovolemic shock—a life-threatening condition triggered by inadequate blood flow to vital organs—after losing nearly 15 per cent of his body weight and experiencing a blood pressure crash to 80/40 mm Hg. Despite the medical scare, fellow student leaders Neha, Manish, and Aameen have refused to back down and are continuing the hunger strike on a separate dais.
CJP Founder Calls Out Government Inaction
Addressing a press conference at the agitation site, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke strongly questioned the central government's prolonged silence and refusal to initiate dialogue with the protesting students. Dipke urged the Ministry of Education not to turn the demand for transparency into a "battle of egos," emphasising that human lives are directly at stake. The core demands of the protest continue to centre around the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the allocation of ₹1 crore compensation for families of students who tragically died by suicide following recent examination leaks and recruitment irregularities.
Opposition Leaders Join Frontline Solidarity
The agitation has rapidly snowballed into a major political flashpoint, drawing high-profile support from prominent opposition blocks. A senior delegation from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, officially visited Jantar Mantar to extend solidarity to the protesting students. Atishi sharply targeted the central administration, stating that repeated paper leaks are systematically ruining the futures of millions of youths across India. Concurrently, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP Amra Ram, alongside senior party delegates from Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, arrived at the venue to endorse the ongoing struggle and back the upcoming massive peaceful march to Parliament scheduled for July 20, marking the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
