Arvind Kejriwal, national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, publicly backed Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Thursday.
The move signals growing political pressure on the central government to address grievances raised by the Cockroach Janata Party, which has targeted Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Kejriwal expressed support for the broader demonstration but urged the climate activist to prioritize his health. "We stand with the protest and urge Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike," Kejriwal said [1]. He said that he would meet Wangchuk on July 16 [2].
Wangchuk's fast has lasted between 17 and 18 days [3, 4]. The physical toll of the strike has been significant, with reports indicating a weight loss of 8.5 kg [5]. The broader Cockroach Janata Party protest at the New Delhi site has continued for 25 to 26 days [6, 7].
The demonstration seeks to compel the central government to initiate a formal dialogue regarding the issues raised by the group. The protest has drawn attention from various public figures; Samay Raina said, "Hoping & praying that he's okay" [8].
Kejriwal's intervention coincides with the protest's third and fourth weeks at Jantar Mantar. By backing the cause while urging the end of the fast, Kejriwal attempts to align the Aam Aadmi Party with the activist's goals without endorsing the potential medical risks of a prolonged hunger strike.
“"We stand with the protest and urge Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike."”
The alignment between a major political figure like Kejriwal and a grassroots activist like Wangchuk elevates the Cockroach Janata Party's grievances from a local protest to a national political issue. It places the central government in a position where ignoring the demonstration may be viewed as a dismissal of both a prominent climate leader and a significant political opponent.
