CJP Protest: Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike and an Unyielding Modi Govt

By MANISH ANAND

The activist’s reported health deterioration has intensified concern, but the Centre has not signalled any move towards negotiations with protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar.

New Delhi, July 14, 2026 — Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike has now entered its 17^th day. He has reportedly lost over 8kg of his weight. Wangchuk seems frail, and health concerns look genuine. The Jantar Mantar Road, the venue of the protest by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), still has supporters raising slogans. Yet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government has shown no interest in opening a channel of communication with protestors.

The CJP supporters have raised claims that Manmohan Singh-led government at the Centre had “panicked just after 11 days of the Anna Hazare fast.” Wangchuk now has exceeded Hazare’s feat. But the government remains unmoved.

The CJP has pivoted its protest to the single agenda of seeking resignation of Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan. The beleaguered minister missed attending a key function in Kolkata where West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced the state adopting the National Education Policy 2020. Pradhan seemingly is already facing the heat of the CJP protest, as well as an avalanche of criticisms from within the ruling BJP’s core constituency against the overall state of education in the country.

The CJP, while demanding resignation of Pradhan, has sent out clear messages that it is not going to sign off protests if the demand is accepted. The outfit in utterances of its leaders and spokespersons, as well as messages posted from the social media handles, has made it clear that it’s anti-BJP platform.

The CJP in its sharp anti-BJP narrative has accused the saffron organisation of indulging in politics of polarisation. It has also predicted the defeat of the BJP in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Besides, the CJP protest platform hosts activists and workers with known anti-BJP backgrounds. Also, much of the crowd at the Jantar Mantar owes strength to the student wings of the Left parties.

Wangchuk, thus, is not an Anna Hazare. The Ladakh-based activist has acquired a political colour. Hazare came to Jantar Mantar without a political baggage, at least the perception of the people, who saw another Gandhi in him.

Hazare pulled crowds and raised passion. His was truly a civil society protest movement, which lost legitimacy after his protégé Arvind Kejriwal went political and launched a political outfit, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The civil society movement, thus, already has a crisis of credibility after Kejriwal went political. The CJP is already political in its character,

Manmohan Singh-led government had begun holding talks with Hazare’s representatives in a response to the civil society movement. Later, the same government had revealed the full might of the State by disbanding the protest staged by Ramdev at Ramlila Ground with a speed that had made the founder of Patanjali run away from the venue.

The Modi government has faced a number of protest movements. The farmers’ protests, lasting over a year, had tested the patience of Modi. The Prime Minister eventually had to step back on the contentious agrarian laws already passed by parliament. That was possible because the farmers had not raised any political flags or banners.

While parliament begins its Monsoon session from July 20, Wangchuk has another six days to extend his fast to time with the march to house of the people planned by the protestors. Monsoon session of parliament may also offer an alibi to the police to finally clear the Jantar Mantar Road of protestors. With the mainstream media looking the other way, the Modi government may also opt to allow critics to vent their anger on the social media, knowing that the memory now is ultra-short.

(This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author’s own.)   

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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