“Will Stay Alive Till July 20 At Any Cost, Come Back Later As Ghost If Failed”: Sonam Wangchuk On Day 20 Fast

Educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday said he would “stay alive till July 20 at any cost” as his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar entered its 20th day, even as doctors warned that his prolonged fast had reached a critical stage.

Wangchuk, who joined the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest over alleged examination irregularities, appealed to supporters to ensure a massive turnout for the organisation’s proposed march to Parliament on July 20 .

Addressing protesters at Jantar Mantar, Wangchuk acknowledged that his health had weakened due to the prolonged fast but said his determination remained firm.

“I am weak from the outside but very strong inside. I am sure all of you are strong from the inside, and outside too. We need this energy for July 20, when we will take out a peaceful march to Parliament,” he said.

In an emotional yet lighter moment, Wangchuk told supporters, “I will stay alive till July 20 at any cost. If you don’t come and July 20 is not successful, I will come back as a ghost,” drawing cheers from the gathering.

Doctors monitoring Wangchuk have warned that his condition has entered a serious phase due to the prolonged hunger strike. They cautioned that continuing the fast could increase the risk of severe health complications, including possible organ damage.

Despite the medical concerns, Wangchuk has refused to end his protest, saying that withdrawing the fast without any response from the government would send the wrong message. He said the focus should now remain on making the July 20 Parliament march successful.

The Delhi High Court has also directed authorities to keep a daily check on Wangchuk’s health and provide medical assistance if his condition deteriorates.

Meanwhile, political leaders continued to visit the protest site. Congress leader Pawan Khera met Wangchuk and other protesters at Jantar Mantar on Friday and expressed solidarity with their demands. Khera urged Wangchuk to end his fast due to his declining health but criticised the government for not holding talks with the protesters.

Earlier, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav had visited Wangchuk and other CJP members, calling for dialogue between the government and demonstrators.

The CJP protest has continued for over 28 days, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination and seeking compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide over examination-related issues.

The proposed July 20 Parliament march will coincide with the opening day of the Monsoon Session and is expected to be a major moment for the ongoing protest as concerns over Wangchuk’s health continue to grow.