Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said he will join the Cockroach Janta Party's protest in New Delhi to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan [1].
The move signals an escalation in public pressure on the Indian government regarding the integrity of national examinations. Allegations of paper leaks in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and irregularities within the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) have sparked widespread student unrest [2].
Wangchuk said his decision on June 5, 2026, to join the demonstration scheduled for June 6, 2026 [1]. The protest, centered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, seeks accountability for the alleged exam leaks [3].
Wangchuk's participation comes amid a period of severe physical strain. He has been on a hunger strike that has resulted in a weight loss of 8.2 kg [4]. Reports indicate his health has deteriorated as the protest entered its 11th day on June 4, 2026 [2].
Despite the physical toll, Wangchuk expressed resolve regarding his activism. "I'm weak from the outside, but I'm strong from inside," Wangchuk said [4].
The Cockroach Janta Party, also referred to as the Cockroach Janata Party, has focused its campaign on the removal of Minister Pradhan [1, 2]. The group said the education ministry has failed to protect the transparency of the competitive examination process [2].
“"I'm weak from the outside, but I'm strong from inside."”
The alliance between a high-profile climate activist like Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party suggests a broadening of the protest movement beyond student circles. By linking the demand for ministerial resignation to a public hunger strike, the movement aims to transform a policy dispute over exam leaks into a broader moral crisis regarding government accountability and transparency in India's education system.
