India Activist Fasts 19 Days Over Education Reforms
Sonam Wangchuk is a longtime activist in India. He has fasted for 19 days in Delhi, India.
His hunger strike became a rallying point for a protest group. The group is called the Cockroach Janta Party.
It is a student-led movement. The movement started after exam paper leaks and student suicides.
It wants major changes to India's education system. The protest has continued at Jantar Mantar in Delhi since June 20th.
Protesters want Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. They blame him for problems with the NEET exam.
A march to Parliament is planned for July 20th. Wangchuk's health has gotten worse during the fast.
He has lost over 9 kilograms. His weight has dropped to 57.15 kilograms.
The Delhi High Court ordered daily medical checks by government doctors. Many opposition leaders have asked him to stop fasting.
These include Shashi Tharoor Mamata Banerjee Akhilesh Yadav Uddhav Thackeray and Arvind Kejriwal. Over 1800 artists and academics have made the same request. The fast has drawn attention to student welfare in India.
Key Terms 3
- Cockroach Janta Party A student-led protest group demanding education reforms in India.
- NEET exam India's national entrance test for medical school admissions.
- Jantar Mantar A historic site in Delhi often used for protests.