Educational activist Sonam Wangchuk has entered the 17th day of a hunger strike in central Delhi, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following exam paper leaks in May 2026. Wangchuk, 59, began his protest on 29 June at Jantar Mantar and has lost 8.5 kg, with health bulletins showing dropping blood pressure and sugar levels.
The protest is organised in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party, a group that gained 22 million Instagram followers within days of its founding in May. The party is demanding accountability after a medical college examination taken by 2.3 million candidates was cancelled due to leaks and subsequently retaken last month. Protesters plan to march to parliament on 20 July.
The strike comes amid broader economic strain, with India's youth unemployment rate nearing 10 percent for those aged 15 to 29 in 2025. Wangchuk previously spent 170 days in prison after an October 2025 arrest before charges were dropped.