Sonam Wangchuk's wife reveals what it will take for him to end hunger strike

The announcement comes a day before the CJP's planned march to Parliament, which the outfit says is aimed at pressing for a judicial probe into alleged examination irregularities and broader reforms in India's education system.Activist Sonam Wangchuk, and his wife Gitanjali J. Angmo, during a protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). (PTI)Ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) proposed 'Chalo Sansad' march on July 20, activist Sonam Wangchuk has offered to end his nearly three-week-long hunger strike, but only if political leaders assure him that the issue of accountability in the education sector will be raised in Parliament.The offer came through Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, who on Sunday said he would call off his indefinite fast if leaders from political parties met him at Safdarjung Hospital and committed to raising the issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which begins on Monday.Addressing protesters at Jantar Mantar, where the CJP has been leading a campaign over the alleged NEET paper leak and demanding sweeping education reforms, Angmo said Wangchuk had conveyed that his fast was never an end in itself but a means to secure accountability."If political leaders meet Sonam at the hospital and assure him that they will raise the issue of education accountability during the Monsoon Session, he will end his hunger strike tomorrow," Angmo said. The announcement comes a day before the CJP's planned march to Parliament, which the outfit says is aimed at pressing for a judicial probe into alleged examination irregularities and broader reforms in India's education system.MASSIVE CROWDS AHEAD 'CHALO SANSAD' MARCHMeanwhile, the 'Chalo Sansad' event is scheduled to begin at around 9 am on Monday from Jantar Mantar, where crowds swelled on Sunday ahead of the march to Parliament. The march coincides with the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament and is expected to be the culmination of the group's month-long agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak and demands for education reforms.The CJP has launched a missed-call campaign for supporters to register for the march. Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka claimed that over 1.3 lakh people have already signed up through the initiative.The mobilisation also appeared to translate into a large turnout on the ground, with Jantar Mantar turning into a packed protest site on Sunday as supporters from different parts of the country began arriving.CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das claimed that nearly 20,000 people were "at and around Jantar Mantar" even before the scheduled march.In a post on X, Das wrote, "20,000 people are at and around Jantar Mantar. And it's not even July 20 yet. Dharmendra Pradhan – Your day of reckoning is here."The party also shared photographs and videos on social media showing large crowds at the protest site, claiming that supporters from across the country had reached Delhi ahead of Monday's march.FEAR OF POLICE ACTION, CJP URGES NIGHT VIGILAs the crowd at Jantar Mantar continued to grow, CJP founder Abhishek Dipke appealed to supporters to remain at the protest site through the night, saying their presence was crucial to ensure that Monday's march to Parliament went ahead peacefully.Addressing protesters through a video message, Dipke urged people to turn up in large numbers and not leave the venue."Our protest is going on. Please come here in large numbers. Stay here for the night. If you don't come, they will try to end the protest," he said.Emphasising that the march would remain non-violent, Dipke appealed to supporters to exercise restraint and follow police guidelines.Dipke also maintained that Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike was continuing despite his removal from Jantar Mantar and admission to Safdarjung Hospital.Even as preparations for the march gathered pace, the CJP expressed apprehension over possible police action.In a series of posts on X, the outfit urged supporters to reach Jantar Mantar immediately, claimed tear-gas equipment had been moved into the area and alleged that anti-social elements could attempt to infiltrate the gathering to trigger disturbances.NO PERMISSION FOR MARCH, SAYS DELHI POLICEMeanwhile, Delhi Police on Sunday said no permission had been sought or granted for the protest march to Parliament and stepped up security across the national capital ahead of the Monsoon Session.In a statement, the police said they had received reports about the proposed march but clarified that no approval had been given for any such procession or protest march.The force said prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which replaced Section 144 of the CrPC, are currently in force in the New Delhi district.Under the restrictions, protest marches, processions, demonstrations and gatherings of five or more people are prohibited, except at the designated protest site of Jantar Mantar with prior permission."Any person violating these prohibitory orders shall be liable for prosecution under Section 223 of the BNS and other applicable provisions of law," Delhi Police said.The police have intensified security arrangements across the capital, including Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, Central Vista, Shankar Chowk and Connaught Place, while additional forces have been kept on standby.Officials said the heightened security measures are preventive in nature and are aimed at ensuring public safety and maintaining law and order during the Parliament session and any protest-related activity.- EndsPublished By: Aprameya RaoPublished On: Jul 19, 2026 21:55 IST