Fresh political support pours in on 15th day of CJP protest; student hospitalised
The Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 15th day on Saturday (July 4, 2026) and received fresh political support from AAP MP Sanjay Singh and CPI(M) MP John Brittas, while climate activist Sonam Wangchuk continued her seventh day of hunger strike. The All India Students Association (AISA) said that one of the fasting student leaders was hospitalized after his condition became critical.
JNUSU Joint Secretary Danish Ali was admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on Saturday evening after his blood sugar level dropped following a seven-day fast, AISA said.
While the organization said she was hospitalized for intravenous fluids, five other AISA activists – Neha, Manish, Hrishikesh, Deepak and Aameen – continued an indefinite hunger strike along with Mr Wangchuk and other protesters.
Addressing a meeting, Mr. Sanjay Singh accused the BJP government of ignoring students despite repeated exam controversies and questioned why BJP leaders did not visit the protest site.
“All political parties are here in solidarity with the real demand of the youth of the country. Who is stopping the BJP leaders from coming here and supporting the students?” he said.
The AAP leader said the Opposition will raise the issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
“I want to tell the Prime Minister that he must find a solution, otherwise we will not allow Parliament to function,” Mr. Singh said.
He approached the Delhi Police and said, “Do not use lathis on these students.”
‘A nationwide struggle’
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, who said he had come from Kerala to express solidarity, described the agitation as a nationwide struggle to protect the future of youth.
Claiming that the country “has never seen such an insensitive and irresponsible government”, he said: “I came from Kerala to express my solidarity with this protest. This is a spontaneous protest.”
Addressing repeated allegations of exam irregularities, Mr Brittas said almost every major exam run by the Union government has been questioned and called on young people to lead the fight for democratic rights and public education.
He also said opposition parties would continue to raise the issue inside and outside Parliament.
Addressing the protesters, Mr. Wangchuk reiterated the need for accountability.
“If we are forcibly removed, the removal of peaceful protesters will be an international stain on India,” he said, adding that the protesters were only demanding accountability on education.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke had previously said that Mr Wangchuk had lost five kilos and his condition was worsening day by day.
“How long will the Prime Minister wait to dismiss?” [Education Minister] Mr. Dipke asked in a post on X, adding that if anything happened to Mr. Wangchuk, the government would be responsible.
CJP also published an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to break his “resounding silence” over the agitation and hold Mr. Pradhan responsible for allegations of exam paper leaks and student suicides.
The letter said Mr Wangchuk’s hunger strike was aimed at putting “moral pressure” on the government and questioned why there had been no response despite 15 days of protests.
He also reiterated allegations that Delhi Police attacked students and threw books, including books by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, BR Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh, during an attempt to set up a library at the protest site.
Late on Friday night, Mr Wangchuk welcomed the progress made in talks between the Center and representatives of the Polish Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance on Ladakh’s demands and urged the government to now “pay attention to accountability in education”.
His remarks came after the two bodies in Ladakh said they had resolved differences with the Home Ministry over the minutes of an earlier meeting, paving the way for the next phase of formal talks.
Support from farmers
The agitation also received support from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), which announced that a delegation would visit Jantar Mantar on Sunday.
In a letter to CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, the farming community expressed “wholehearted solidarity” with the protest, describing the struggle of students and youth as inseparable from the struggle of farmers and urging the government to take action by securing Mr Pradhan’s resignation.
The protest, which started on June 20 over alleged irregularities in exams, including NEET, received support from a wide section of political leaders and civil society members.
It was published – 05 July 2026 01:49 IST
