Support for climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk is steadily growing in Nagpur as his indefinite hunger strike over the alleged NEET paper leak entered its 18th day on Tuesday. Wangchuk has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and stronger measures to safeguard the credibility of national entrance examinations.
As concern over his health rises, citizens, students and social activists have begun extending support to the movement. While several people have urged Wangchuk through social media platforms to call off his fast, others are preparing to participate in a protest march scheduled to be held in Delhi on July 20.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has initiated efforts to mobilise participants from Nagpur and nearby districts for the march, which will proceed from Jantar Mantar to Parliament House. Organisers have circulated an online registration form to estimate participation and coordinate travel arrangements.
According to the organisers, the response has been encouraging, with students, parents, teachers and members of civil society expressing their willingness to join the campaign. Many believe that repeated allegations of examination irregularities have eroded trust in India’s competitive examination system and that urgent reforms are needed to restore confidence. Swachh Association founder Anasuya Kale-Chhabrani, who recently met Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, said his health condition had weakened due to the prolonged fast but his determination remained firm. She added that several prominent personalities and students had visited him and appealed for an end to the hunger strike.
The controversy surrounding the alleged NEET paper leak has triggered anxiety among lakhs of aspirants who spend years preparing for one of the country’s toughest entrance examinations. The issue has reignited debates over transparency and accountability in the conduct of national-level tests.
CJP’s Nagpur coordinator Durgesh Kuhike said Wangchuk’s protest had become a rallying point for those seeking reforms in the education system. He said the upcoming march aimed to show solidarity with students demanding a fair and transparent examination process.
Kuhike said awareness meetings were being organised across Nagpur to inform citizens about the objectives of the movement and encourage wider participation. According to him, several students and activists have already made independent arrangements to travel to Delhi for the protest.
Chess coach Harshal Meshram, while expressing support for the cause, said he was worried about Wangchuk’s deteriorating health and hoped he would end the fast soon. “Ladakh needs him,” he remarked. Former Congress leader Narendra Jichkar, who plans to participate in the march, said the movement was not targeted against any particular institution but was aimed at protecting the interests of students whose futures depend on a credible examination system.
“My son cleared the NEET examination, so I understand the effort and dedication required to succeed. Repeated incidents of paper leaks have put the aspirations of countless students at risk,” Jichkar said.
He expressed confidence that the campaign would attract participation from people belonging to different sections of society and help amplify demands for reforms in the examination system.
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