The Core Message: “What Message Will Go?”
Despite a direct medical warning from the Delhi High Court and intense, emotional appeals from senior politicians, 59-year-old Ladakhi educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has flatly refused to break his indefinite hunger strike.
Speaking in a video update on the 19th day of his fast, Wangchuk made it clear that backing down now without a concrete response from the government would establish a dangerous precedent:
“If I eat, what will change and what message will go? The message will go to the government that there is no need to answer [to the protesters].”
The Medical Reality: Day 19 of the Fast
While a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the High Court warned that the activist might not survive the next 48 hours, his medical team released a detailed breakdown of his current vitals.
| Vital Metric | Recorded Value | Clinical Assessment |
| Total Weight Loss | 9.0+ kg (Down to ~57 kg) | Marked muscle wasting and physical fatigue |
| Blood Sugar | 80 mg/dL | Borderline low, but stable for prolonged fasting |
| Blood Pressure |
105/61 mmHg (Lying) 101/65 mmHg (Sitting) |
Hypotensive trend, consistent with long-term starvation |
| Pulse Rate | 72 bpm | Stable cardiac rhythm |
| Hydration & Mental State | Fair / Mentally Alert | Fully conscious and speaking coherently |
What Is the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) Protesting?
Wangchuk did not launch this hunger strike in isolation; he voluntarily joined the ongoing demonstration organized by the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), founded by activist Abhijeet Dipke.
The Legal Intervention
Following warnings about Wangchuk’s failing health, the Delhi High Court division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed the Union and Delhi governments to ensure daily, comprehensive medical checks by state doctors. While the court stopped short of ordering immediate force-feeding, it directed the Solicitor General to ensure that “whatever medical intervention is required” to preserve his life is executed dynamically based on daily clinical reports.
Wangchuk has appealed directly to school and college students, alongside citizens across the country, to observe a one-day solidarity fast and converge on Jantar Mantar on July 20, 2026 to escalate the pressure on Parliament.
