A group of prominent Indian citizens, including Arundhati Roy and Naseeruddin Shah, have appealed to protesters on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar to end their fast due to health concerns, while fully supporting their demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged NEET irregularities.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's vital parameters remain stable, but he continues to refuse intravenous fluids and glucose despite repeated medical advice, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said, as he extends his hunger strike over police action against protesters.
The Jharkhand government is holding fresh discussions with student aspirants protesting alleged recruitment exam irregularities, even as the health of key protest leader Devendra Nath Mahto has significantly deteriorated after being on an indefinite hunger strike for about a week.
Delhi Police has significantly increased security across New Delhi ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament and a proposed "Chalo Sansad" march by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). Additional personnel, barricades, and vehicle checks are in place, with authorities stating no permission has been granted for the march. The heightened vigil follows CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke's hunger strike and activist Sonam Wangchuk's call for the July 20 march from the hospital.
Students intensified their protest over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in Jharkhand with five demonstrators joining an indefinite hunger strike, even as Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday said the question paper leak issues are a national problem and offered talks to resolve the impasse.
As Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike entered the 17th day, concerns over the famed environmentalist and educationist's rapidly deteriorating health intensified, prompting appeals from political leaders, celebrities and social media urging him to end his fast.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk released a video detailing his experience at Safdarjung Hospital, where he alleged he was prevented from leaving despite a Delhi High Court order. Hospital authorities claim the video was recorded before they received the official court order and in a no-videography zone. Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike for examination reforms, later ended his fast at Medanta Hospital after government assurances.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has decided to continue his indefinite hunger strike despite appeals, stating that ending it without government response would send the wrong message. He is urging supporters to join the Cockroach Janta Party's Parliament march on July 20 to press for accountability regarding alleged NEET irregularities.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has declared his hunger strike will persist beyond the 'Sansad Chalo' march, demanding government accountability for education system failures or assurances from political leaders to address the issue in Parliament. He also alleges 'illegal detention' at Safdarjung Hospital.
A senior doctor at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has stated that administering IV fluids and initiating nutritional support are essential for activist Sonam Wangchuk, warning that his condition could become critical if his ongoing hunger strike continues without medical intervention.
The Delhi High Court has refused to allow activist Sonam Wangchuk to be shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility, stating that doctors are closely monitoring him and his removal from Jantar Mantar was not arbitrary. The court noted that his family has round-the-clock access and the petition will be heard further on July 24.
Job aspirants in Jharkhand are continuing their 19-day agitation against alleged irregularities in state recruitment examinations, demanding greater transparency, cancellation of tests, and an independent probe. The protests have led to clashes with police, a political showdown with the BJP, and health concerns for hunger-striking demonstrators, despite government assurances of reforms.
Protesters from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) remained camped at Jantar Mantar following a police crackdown during their 'Sansad Chalo' march, demanding accountability for alleged exam irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalised on the 21st day of his hunger strike, leading Delhi Police to clear the protest site at Jantar Mantar in compliance with Delhi High Court directions and medical advice.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh on Friday welcomed activist Sonam Wangchuk's decision to end his 26-day hunger strike, saying dialogue and trust are better than confrontation to resolve the crisis pertaining to the alleged NEET-UG paper leak.
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and activist Sonam Wangchuk's protest at Jantar Mantar has entered its eleventh day, with Wangchuk's health deteriorating due to a hunger strike. Protesters allege heavy police deployment and restrictions, demanding accountability for examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Activist Manoj Jarange is set to launch a hunger strike in Mumbai on August 29 to demand reservation for the Maratha community, despite government attempts to dissuade him. The Bombay High Court has stated that he needs prior permission to protest.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's vital parameters are stable, but his blood parameters require close clinical observation at Safdarjung Hospital. He is under continuous medical management by a multidisciplinary team following his forcible admission after a 21-day hunger strike protesting NEET irregularities.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has cancelled the JSSC-CGL exam and all tests conducted by outsourced agency TDPL since 2014, following widespread protests by job aspirants over alleged irregularities. An examination reforms committee has been formed, while some protesters continue to demand a CBI probe.
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday urged its supporters to gather at the Jantar Mantar in large numbers ahead of its proposed 'Sansad Chalo' march on Monday, claiming that there could be a police crackdown on the protest.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's health is rapidly deteriorating on his 17th day of hunger strike, prompting widespread appeals from prominent political figures and Bollywood celebrities for him to end his fast and for the government to address the urgent demands for NEET examination reforms.
Malik began an indefinite hunger strike on July 22 after the Centre did not respond to his plea that he be allowed to physically appear in a Jammu court hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case in which he is an accused.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed from his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar by Delhi Police, sparking outrage and renewed determination among protesters who vowed to continue their demonstration.
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the forcible shifting of activist Sonam Wangchuk from a protest site at Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital during his hunger strike. The court noted that the issue of his hospitalisation had been previously addressed and dismissed the new petition, advising the petitioner to lodge an FIR if still aggrieved.
The refugees launched their hunger strike since Monday evening and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has also been apprised of the situation, he added.
Students in Ranchi, under the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, are intensifying their protests against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Despite a large protest involving over 50,000 students, the government has not responded positively, leading to a decision to continue the agitation. The students are demanding transparency, reforms in JPSC and JSSC, cancellation of exams, and an independent investigation, with some even on hunger strike.
The Cockroach Janta Party has significantly escalated its sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi urged girl students to "smash patriarchy" and criticised the "Manusmriti mindset" during an interaction in Pune, highlighting issues of sexual harassment, safety, and economic independence for women.
The Delhi High Court is set to hear an appeal by Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of fasting activist Sonam Wangchuk, challenging a single judge's order that refused to interfere with his ongoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital.
Sonam Wangchuk has strongly denied allegations of a 'deal' with the Centre, clarifying that he concluded his 26-day hunger strike only after receiving a crucial written assurance.
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which on Monday attempted to march to Parliament to register its protest on the NEET exam leak, said that its founder Abhijeet Dipke had been "picked up" by Delhi Police as protests intensified.
Delhi Police executed a meticulously planned overnight operation, involving white sheets and potential network jammers, to shift activist Sonam Wangchuk to a government hospital after his health deteriorated during a 20-day hunger strike, following directions from the Delhi High Court.
Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut has made significant claims regarding potential political shifts, suggesting Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis might move to the Centre, paving the way for a new BJP chief minister in the state. Raut also announced a 'Ram Raksha Andolan' protest in Nagpur against alleged embezzlement at the Ayodhya Ram temple and commented on delimitation and activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike.
Aamir Khan's comments that his 3 Idiots character Phunsukh Wangdu was not based on Sonam Wangchuk has triggered reactions from politicians, activists and social media users, with some accusing the actor of distancing himself from the educationist, who is currently on a hunger strike.
Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has ended his hunger strike which he began on November 26, 2022, to press for various demands of agitating farmers including a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The announcement came after appeals from Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu. Dallewal said he would continue to fight for the MSP guarantee and other demands.
Activist Manoj Jarange, who is observing an indefinite fast for the Maratha quota demand, on Saturday said a series of hunger strikes will begin in every village in Maharashtra from October 29 if the government fails to grant the reservation immediately.
Three of the junior doctors who were observing 'fast unto death' in Kolkata and Siliguri city in the northern part of the state have so far been hospitalised after their condition deteriorated.
As the agitation over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand recruitment examinations entered its 14th day, talks between the state government and student protesters on Friday failed to break the deadlock, with students deciding to continue their protest and hunger strike until their demands, including cancellation of the 14th JPSC examination, are met.
Several Opposition leaders, including the Congress' Pawan Khera, showed solidarity with activist Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar which has entered twentieth, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged NEET examination irregularities.
Although both sides agreed on the prevailing threat culture, they differed on the underlying premises, forces, and situations that promote it.
