Arvind Kejriwal met with activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday at Jantar Mantar to demand the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The meeting signals a high-profile political alignment between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and educational activists over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This collaboration puts additional pressure on the central government to address systemic grievances within the national examination process.
Wangchuk, a scientist and educationist, has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 18 days [1]. He is demanding the resignation of Pradhan over the handling of the NEET examinations. During the visit on 16 July 2026 [2], Kejriwal said Wangchuk is a possible replacement for the education minister.
Security was heightened in and around the Jantar Mantar site ahead of the visit [3]. The protest was organized by the Cockroach Janta Party, according to reports from ThePrint. The gathering served as a platform for Kejriwal to warn the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of political consequences.
"Dharmendra Pradhan ko hatao aur..." Kejriwal said [4]. The phrase reflects his demand for the immediate ouster of the current minister.
Wangchuk has remained steadfast in his commitment to the hunger strike despite the duration of the protest. He said that the movement would persist until the government takes action.
"We will continue our protest until the education minister resigns," Wangchuk said [5].
Kejriwal, the AAP national convenor and former Delhi chief minister, used the encounter to highlight the perceived failures of the current education ministry. He said that a scientist and educationist like Wangchuk would be better suited to lead the portfolio.
“"We will continue our protest until the education minister resigns."”
The alliance between a prominent political leader and a respected scientist-activist elevates the NEET irregularity controversy from a student grievance to a national political issue. By proposing a specific replacement for the Education Minister, Kejriwal is attempting to frame the issue not just as a demand for resignation, but as a demand for a fundamental shift in how India manages its educational leadership.
