Activist Sonam Wangchuk has entered the 18th day of his hunger strike demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, with his weight now down 8.9 kg to 57.15 kg. Medical reports indicate worsening health under 24-hour supervision at the Jantar Mantar protest site in Delhi.
Health deterioration and medical supervision
According to a statement from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Dr. Satish Lamba, a former Delhi Medical Association secretary, confirmed Wangchuk remains "very weak" and under constant medical vigilance. His latest vitals include a blood sugar level of 80 mg/dL, fair hydration, and a blood pressure of 105/76 mmHg.
Wangchuk’s condition reflects thresholds documented in medical literature for prolonged fasting. His body has shifted to ketone metabolism, a backup energy process triggered by the absence of food. The activist has endured two prior hunger strikes exceeding 20 days in 2024 over Ladakh conservation and autonomy issues.
Protest conditions and demands
Wangchuk, 59, has subsisted solely on salt water and has not required an intravenous drip. He remains largely bedridden on a makeshift setup with an elevated headrest. On July 14, he was escorted to the restroom and later engaged in discussions with CJP founders, including Abhijeet Dipke, who stated Wangchuk refused to end the strike and demanded government dialogue.
Among his few complaints is the urban noise at Jantar Mantar. On July 2, he requested via X (formerly Twitter) that someone transport his discontinued noise-cancelling earphones from Bengaluru, stating, “The noise here is killing me.”
