New Delhi [India], July 22 : Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activist Abhijeet Dipke appealed to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to call off his prolonged hunger strike as concerns over his deteriorating health intensified, while vowing that the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar will persist until their core demands are met.
Abhijeet Dipke, in a post on X, highlighted the deep concern for the activist's well-being and detailed the ongoing strategy of the movement.
He stated, "We request @Wangchuk66 sir to end his hunger strike. The country needs him, and his life is far too precious to be put at further risk. The peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until our demands are met."
CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke emphasised that the struggle for accountability will not stop regardless of the fast's status.
"Today is the 25th day of Sonam Sir's hunger strike. 25 days without food, so there is a huge threat to his life. I don't want anything to happen to Sonam Sir, so I request Sonam Sir to break his hunger strike. And we will continue this protest. This is my assurance that even if Sonam Sir breaks his hunger strike, we will continue our protest and will not step back until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. And with this, I want to say that our protest will continue peacefully. I appeal to all our supporters to continue the protest peacefully," he said.
Abhijeet Dipke further outlined the non-violent principles guiding their campaign and reiterating the absolute resolve behind the demand for official accountability.
"We will not do anything wrong that would defame our protest or our country. Our protest will follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and will continue peacefully. So I once again request Sonam Sir to break his hunger strike, and our protest will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns," he said.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking an independent investigation into the police action during climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike at Jantar Mantar and directions to safeguard citizens' constitutional right to hold peaceful protests.
A division bench of Chief Justice Devender Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia is scheduled to hear the matter.
The PIL has been filed by Shakeel Abbas, a Delhi-based advocate, through Advocate Shakil Sheikh and Associates. It names the Union of India, the Delhi Police Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District), the Station House Officer of Parliament Street Police Station, the Chief Secretary of the Delhi Government and the Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital as respondents.
According to the petition, the case concerns the alleged violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 19(1)(a), 19(1)(b), 19(1)(c) and 21 of the Constitution during the alleged suppression of a peaceful and non-violent protest led by Sonam Wangchuk and other demonstrators. The petitioner has sought judicial safeguards to protect the right to peaceful assembly and expression.
The plea states that Sonam Wangchuk and several students and citizens began an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on June 28, 2026, raising issues relating to the education system and alleged examination paper leaks. It claims that the protest remained peaceful until July 17 without any reported violence.
Referring to the events of July 18, the petition says that police personnel entered the protest site on the 21st day of the hunger strike. While official statements said Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on medical grounds, the petition alleges that the protest site was cleared, several protesters were removed or detained against their wishes, and excessive force was used while dispersing the gathering.
It further claims that protesters were harassed and prevented from continuing their demonstration.
The petitioner has also sought interim directions restraining authorities from taking coercive action, unlawful detention, intimidation, harassment or use of excessive force against Sonam Wangchuk or any other peaceful protester solely for participating in a lawful assembly, except in accordance with due process of law.