Sonam Wangchuk's Hunger Strike Enters 24th Day Amid NEET Paper Leak Protests

NEW DELHI: Scientist and activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday entered the 24th consecutive day of his hunger strike, as the Cockroach Janta Party intensified its protest against the Centre over the NEET paper leak and reiterated its demand for Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said Wangchuk remained firm in his indefinite fast, which the group said was aimed at seeking accountability over the NEET fiasco. In a post on X, Ranka wrote: "Sonam Wangchuk is on 24th day of his hunger strike. He is still fighting for us. We won't stop. Pradhan has to be sacked." Apart from Wangchuk, other protesters also resumed their sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, continuing their agitation and pressing for Pradhan's resignation. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also continued the protest alongside party members at the demonstration site. A day earlier, the protesters march to Parliament drew a large crowd of supporters and was joined by several prominent personalities, including actors Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj, as well as MPs Dimple Yadav and Chandrashekhar Azad. The protest, however, was marred by allegations of police excesses. The CJP accused the Delhi Police of using force against protesters, alleging that Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali, along with Shabana Azmi and Prakash Raj, were among those targeted during the march. The Delhi Police, however, rejected the allegations, describing the claims circulating on social media as false and misleading.