Cockroach Janata Party founder Abhijeet Dipke called off his indefinite hunger strike after Sonam Wangchuk’s appeal, while party representatives headed for talks with Union Health Minister JP Nadda over their examination reform demands.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke is consoled by supporters after Sonam Wangchuk was removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site and taken to Safdarjung Hospital. | IANS
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke ended his indefinite hunger strike on Monday following an appeal from activist Sonam Wangchuk, even as the party stepped up its protest over examination reforms and opened talks with the Centre.
The development came as CJP representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka left to meet Union Health Minister JP Nadda after the government reached out for discussions earlier in the day.
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Posting on X, Das said the party remained firm on its demands while expressing optimism ahead of the meeting.
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“It’s 11:52 AM. Ashutosh Ranka and I, on behalf of the Cockroach Janata Party, are on our way to meet J.P. Nadda. The government had reached out for talks in the morning. Our demands are clear. The youth have gathered in huge numbers. We shall win!” he wrote.
Earlier, Das said the party was willing to engage with the government despite what he described as a delayed outreach. He added that there was still no clarity from the administration on its position and said “the ball is in their court.”
Dipke had begun his fast after Wangchuk was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18, when the activist’s own 21-day hunger strike required medical intervention.
#WATCH | Delhi: Moment when the founding president of the Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, ended his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar pic.twitter.com/na3njYX0ZX
— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2026
Wangchuk, who has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on Monday requested hospital authorities to discharge him, saying his health had stabilised and he wished to participate in the “Sansad Chalo” march to Parliament.
In a note shared on X, Wangchuk wrote that his health parameters were “quite normal” and sought permission to leave the hospital, even temporarily, to join the protest march.
Meanwhile, police used mild force to disperse protesters attempting to march towards Parliament from Jantar Mantar, leading to traffic disruptions in parts of the national capital.
Delhi Police said marches, demonstrations and assemblies of five or more people are prohibited except at the designated protest site at Jantar Mantar with prior permission. Security has also been tightened around Parliament as the Monsoon Session commenced on Monday.
(With inputs from ANI)
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