India
oi-Swastika Sruti
Literally, this was the time when Congress could gain some trust by joining the protest and making some scene against the education minister, but sadly they are missing.
Educator Sonam Wangchuk is on a 17-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar protesting alleged NEET exam scams, losing 8.2 kg, as Uddhav Thackeray urges Rahul Gandhi and Congress to join, drawing criticism for their absence.
The leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi has been missing from the Jantar Mantar protest where the Cockroach Janata Party is protesting over alleged examination scams / paper leaks.
Not just this, Rahul Gandhi has not visited Wayanad, where a landslide occurred last week that claimed eight lives. Yes, he did slam BJP over the NEET Exam and paper leaks and also met with students in Kota, but his absence from the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar has now drawn attention.
Heartfelt gratitude to former Gujarat CM @ShankersinhBapu for visiting Jantar Mantar and extending his support to CJP’s protest. pic.twitter.com/yr0YEGVxDH
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 14, 2026
Sonam Wangchuk Questions Opposition’s Absence
Sonam Wangchuk- who is on his 17th day of hunger strike in Jantar Mantar, has called for the opposition parties to stand with the youth led agitation. Speaking with Indian Express, Wangchuk said that it would be the opposition’s pettiness if political parties failed to participate in the protest. He put a straight warning that if the opposition leaders including Congress failed to support a movement like this then people would reject them.
TMC Chief @MamataOfficial Di spoke to Sonam sir to enquire about his health. She urged him to stay strong and extended her solidarity to CJP’s movement seeking justice for students.
I sincerely thank Mamata Didi for her concern, solidarity, and support for our cause.
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 14, 2026
Uddhav Thackeray Calls On Rahul Gandhi To Visit Protest
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray openly asked Rahul Gandhi to visit Jantar Mantar and support the protesters. He said, “I will also go. Rahul Gandhi ji should also go. All those who have faith in the country’s youth should go. People across the entire country should come out on the streets and support them,” Thackeray said.
Thackeray is scheduled to travel to Delhi on July 20 and visit Jantar Mantar to join the ongoing protest.
Had a call with Shiv Sena chief @OfficeofUT, who expressed deep concern over Sonam Sir’s rapidly deteriorating health. He earnestly appealed to Sonam Sir to end his hunger strike, saying that his well-being is of utmost importance.
Would like to thank Uddhav Sir for his…
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 14, 2026
Several Opposition leaders have already expressed solidarity with the protesters or visited the protest site.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh and former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, Trinamool Congress leaders Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad, CPI(M) leaders MA Baby and Brinda Karat, and Kerala leader KK Shailaja are among those who have backed the agitation.
However, the Congress is yet to formally throw its weight behind the CJP, despite raising concerns over the same examination issues for months.
I thank NCP Leader and MLA Rohit Pawar sir for extending his support to CJP’s protest and Sonam sir’s hunger strike. https://t.co/8xTUJJCkLM
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 14, 2026
The CJP Unrest: Sonam Loses 8.2 Kg After 17 Days Of Hunger Strike
After 17 days of hunger strike, educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk lost 8.2 kgs. Wangchuk joined the protest in support of CJP over their agitation against the NEET paper leaks and accountability of students who committed suicide.
Wangchuk’s Health Raise Concern After 17 Days of Fasting
According to the latest medical update, Wangchuk’s blood pressure was recorded at 107/70 mmHg, while his blood glucose level stood at 67 mg/dL.
I sincerely thank BKU Charuni President Gurnam Singh Charuni ji for visiting Jantar Mantar to enquire about Sonam sir’s health and for standing in solidarity with CJP’s protest. pic.twitter.com/2YeF9CriUF
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 14, 2026
Amid this the CJP has also announced plans to march towards Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the beginning of the Monsoon Session. The protest group is expected to continue pressing its demands over the alleged NEET examination irregularities.
Akhilesh Yadav Appeals to Wangchuk to End Fast
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has appealed to him to end his hunger strike.
In a post on X, Yadav described Wangchuk’s life as invaluable and praised his commitment to humanity, environmental issues and democracy.
I sincerely thank Samajwadi Party Chief @yadavakhilesh sir for standing with Sonam sir and supporting the cause for which he has put his life at risk. https://t.co/oQ5aq2JUne
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 14, 2026
“We humbly request and earnestly appeal to Shri Sonam Wangchuk ji to break his fast. His life is invaluable to the entire world because it embodies the same commitment to humanity, the environment and democracy,” Yadav said.
This is beyond politics, something we must all support, while all of us voice the lakhs of students who face a future that is uncertain because of an irresponsible government, and an incapable minister.@Wangchuk66 ji has been fasting to voice these students. Standing with you. https://t.co/VcTKiCAcZd
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) July 14, 2026
Zeenat Aman Calls for Dialogue
Veteran actor Zeenat Aman has also expressed concern over Wangchuk’s health and urged the Centre to begin talks with him.
In a post on Instagram, Aman said the country should not silently watch as one of its respected minds puts his health at serious risk.
“We must not become a society that sits back and watches one of its greatest minds be sacrificed,” she wrote.
“India has a long history of peaceful protest; those who wield power are obliged to meet such protest with peaceful dialogue. I implore the Indian government to open dialogue on this matter that concerns the future of all India,” Aman added.
Omi Vaidya Says, ‘I Don’t Want Him to Die’
Actor Omi Vaidya, remembered for playing Chatur “Silencer” Ramalingam in the 2009 film 3 Idiots, has also appealed for greater public attention to Wangchuk’s deteriorating health. He said, “I don’t want Phunsuk Wangdu to die”.
Missed A Chance
At a time when Sonam Wangchuk has spent more than two weeks without food and has reportedly lost over eight kilograms, the visible absence of Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, raises question.
Day 17 of Sonam Sir’s Hunger-Strike.
He has started losing muscle mass and is in immense pain. Like everyone else, I begged him to end his fast.
He calmly replied, “Don’t ask me to end my fast. Ask the govt why they won’t even have a dialogue.” pic.twitter.com/xPKFqJz4vL
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 14, 2026
Where is India’s principal Opposition party when an issue needs a strong Opposition voice?
Akhilesh Yadav has publicly appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast, Arvind Kejriwal has extended support, and even actors such as Zeenat Aman and Omi Vaidya have spoken about his health. Yet, the Congress leadership appears strangely missing from the larger public conversation around the protest.
This is precisely the kind of moment when an Opposition party is expected to step forward, ask tough questions of the government and, at the very least, demand accountability before a protester’s health deteriorates further.
We all have seen Rahul Gandhi holding the book of Constitution and talking about democracy but if those words are to carry political weight, they must also be visible on the ground at difficult moments. It has to be said that the role of the Opposition cannot be limited to Parliament speeches, press conferences, election campaigns or social media posts.
A strong Opposition must recognise a public issue when it is unfolding and respond before it becomes a tragedy. Congress’s silence speaks volumes about its lack of concern towards national issues and reflects that their moments of pride remain in adjourning the parliament sessions and giving unparliamentary speeches. No doubt why the BJP does not take the Congress into consideration.
It is an opinion that the CJP protest should perhaps never have remained just a CJP protest. This is an issue the Opposition should have taken up from the beginning, turning the concerns of students into a larger national movement and demanding answers from the government.
Instead, the government appears unwilling to seriously engage with the protesters, while the principal Opposition has failed to make its presence strongly felt on the ground. At a time when a man is risking his health through an indefinite hunger strike, the silence and lack of urgency on both sides raise a disturbing question: who is actually taking the issue seriously?
