Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), announced an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday following the hospitalization of activist Sonam Wangchuk [1, 2].
The protest marks an escalation in tensions between climate activists and the Indian government, framing the health crisis of a high-profile dissident as a political confrontation.
Delhi Police shifted Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital [3] after he was removed from the protest site at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi [2, 3]. Reports on the duration of Wangchuk's initial fast vary, with some sources stating the strike had entered Day 21 [3], while others cited Day four [4].
Dipke said the removal of Wangchuk was a political move orchestrated by the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi [2, 3]. "I'm starting an indefinite hunger strike right now," Dipke said [2].
In addition to the fast, Dipke said the CJP demands the resignation of PM Modi [3]. "We demand PM Modi's resignation," Dipke said [3].
A large contingent of Delhi Police personnel was deployed at the protest site during the incident [1]. The CJP has further announced plans to organize a march to Parliament on 20 July [3].
Dipke said the police action was an intentional effort to silence Wangchuk's climate and political advocacy. The deployment of security forces at Jantar Mantar remains a focal point as the CJP seeks to mobilize further public support for the cause [1, 3].
“"I'm starting an indefinite hunger strike right now"”
The transition of Sonam Wangchuk's protest from a public square to a hospital setting has shifted the movement's focus toward the perceived brutality of state intervention. By launching a secondary hunger strike, Abhijeet Dipke is attempting to maintain political momentum and prevent the cause from losing visibility while Wangchuk is incapacitated. The call for the Prime Minister's resignation elevates the protest from a specific policy grievance to a broader challenge of the current administration's legitimacy.
