New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and government accountability over alleged examination irregularities entered 16th day on Sunday, with founder Abhijeet Dipke announcing to join a students' demonstration at his hometown Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra on Monday.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose indefinite hunger strike entered eighth day, claimed that around 7,000 people attended the protest during the day in the national capital.
According to a health bulletin issued by doctors, he has lost around six kg since beginning the fast.
His blood pressure was recorded at 112/70 mm Hg in the lying-down position, heart rate was at 72 beats per minute and blood sugar at 67 mg/dL.
The bulletin said his hydration was fair, he was mentally alert and his weight had dropped to 60.95 kg.
“Still alive, though not kicking," Wangchuk said on X, adding that the movement's impact could be judged by the volume of trolling it attracted on social media, which he described as his "success-o-meter".
"Some 7,000 people gathered at Jantar Mantar today from morning to evening. Leaders of various social and political movements spoke in support,” he said.
"Over the years I've seen that this number is directly proportional to the impact. I'll be so sad & dejected the day they go missing. Thank you, my success-o-meter, for your hard work," he added.
Dipke, in a separate post on X, said he was invited to a protest by students in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar against an alleged paper leak, and added that he would stand in solidarity with them and support their demand for justice.
Earlier in the day, the parents of NEET aspirant Riya Kumari Thapa, who the CJP claims died after the alleged paper leak shattered her dreams, visited the protest site.
Dipke said Thapa's father, an Army veteran, joined the protest with an appeal that no other family should have to endure such a loss and urged the Centre to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
In another post, the CJP said it stood firmly with Thapa's parents in their grief and fight against what it described as a corrupt system that failed their daughter.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges, held on May 3, was cancelled amid allegations of a paper leak. A re-test was held on June 21.
Meanwhile, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which had earlier extended support to the agitation, is now scheduled to send a delegation to the protest site on July 7 after initially stating that it would visit on Sunday.
The farmers' body has said every student has the right to a transparent, fair and credible examination system and that ensuring accountability is the government's responsibility.
Several members of the Left-affiliated All India Students' Association (AISA) also continued their indefinite hunger strike on a separate stage at the protest site.
Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) joint secretary Danish Ali, who was admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Saturday after his blood sugar level dropped to 46 mg/dL on the seventh day of the fast, remained hospitalised.
Other students, Neha, Manish, Hrishikesh, Deepak Kumar Verma and Aameen, continued their indefinite hunger strike at the protest site.
The CJP protest began on June 20 over alleged irregularities in the country's examination system and has since drawn support from several political leaders, activists and civil society members.