The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday, 24 July declared that its demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi will press on, even as innovator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk brought his 26-day hunger strike to a close after receiving government assurances. The party made clear that the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains the central, non-negotiable demand of the movement.

CJP's Position on the Protest

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka confirmed that the party had itself urged Wangchuk to end his fast, citing serious concerns over his declining health. He acknowledged that the activist had succeeded in extracting two key commitments from the government before stepping back.

'We were appealing to Sonam Ji to end his hunger strike. It had been 27 days, and his health was continuously deteriorating. We are very proud that Sonam Ji secured two of our conditional demands from the government: That no legal action will be taken against any protesters and that adequate compensation will be provided,' Ranka said.

Despite welcoming those assurances, Ranka drew a firm line on the broader movement. 'We want to make it very clear that the protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation has been the demand of this movement from the very beginning, and until Pradhan resigns, we are not going to step back,' he said.

Why Wangchuk Ended His Hunger Strike

Wangchuk concluded his fast after receiving assurances from the government and Members of Parliament across political parties that issues related to examination paper leaks and accountability in the education system would be taken up in Parliament. His team announced the decision on X (formerly Twitter), stating that the fast was ended following assurances on three points: a parliamentary discussion on examination reforms, compensation for families of students who died by suicide linked to the recent NEET paper leak controversy, and a guarantee of no action against peaceful protesters.

Key Meeting with Union Ministers

Ranka also disclosed that a meeting between CJP representatives and senior Union ministers was scheduled for the same day. 'At 12:30 PM, there is a meeting with J.P. Nadda in CCI. As far as we have been told, Jitendra Singh might also be present there, and whatever is discussed will be shared with you,' he said.

Broader Context: NEET Controversy and Examination Reforms

The protest unfolds against the backdrop of sustained political pressure over the NEET paper leak scandal, which has triggered demands for accountability from student groups, Opposition parties, and civil society. The Centre has maintained that it is treating the concerns seriously and has announced plans for stricter measures against examination irregularities. Notably, this is the latest in a series of demonstrations at Jantar Mantar tied to the examination reform debate, reflecting deepening public anger over the integrity of competitive tests. The CJP's insistence on Pradhan's resignation signals that the movement is unlikely to wind down without a significant political concession from the government.