Opposition leaders on Tuesday appealed to educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite fast at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, while expressing support for the ongoing protest.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal extended his party's support to the ongoing protest by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar and urged Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike.
In a press conference, Kejriwal said he will visit Jantar Mantar at 5 pm on Thursday to extend his support to Wangchuk and the CJP protest.
"Sonam Wangchuk is on hunger strike for some days and his health is deteriorating. He is an asset of the country and I appeal him to end his hunger strike. There are other ways also for the struggle," the former Delhi chief minister said.
AAP supports the CJP protest and its demands and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should immediately step down, he said.
Kejriwal added the exam system should be improved to plug paper leaks and protect students from facing problems in the future.
AAP leader and former Delhi chief minister Atishi met Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar on Monday.
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also appealed to Wangchuk to end his indefinite fast, saying no sacrifice holds significance for the "insensitive" BJP government.
"We humbly request and earnestly appeal to Shri Sonam Wangchuk ji to break his fast. His life is invaluable to the entire world because it embodies the same commitment to humanity and the environment as it does to democracy," Yadav posted on X.
"The BJP government, which he is attempting to awaken through his fast unto death, is itself a principle-less and corrupt system. In its insensitivity and heartlessness, the sacrifice of anyone holds no significance; therefore, expecting any sense of propriety or change of heart from BJP members is utterly futile," he said.
"For them (BJP), no one's life holds any value. For them, money is paramount. They are intoxicated with the arrogance of wealth earned through corruption. Hoping for change in them is in vain. Those who are arrogant cannot be refined," he added.
The appeals come on the 24th day of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar and the 17th day of Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike.
Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said Wangchuk has begun losing muscle mass and is in severe pain. Sharing their conversation on X, Dipke said he urged the activist to end his fast, but Wangchuk responded, "Don't ask me to end my fast. Ask the govt why they won't even have a dialogue."
Yadav also targeted the BJP over the donation theft at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
"How would those who are looting even temples out of greed for power ('satta-graha') understand the significance of 'Satyagraha'? They have no concern for the future of the youth, nor for the dreams of their parents and other family members-they are simply self-centred people," he said.
"To defeat and permanently remove the BJP, which is strangling democracy, and its gang of underground, unregistered allies-may your morale and moral strength continue to inspire every true Indian, and may you forever remain a beacon of light for your countrymen, the youth, and the struggles for democracy and the environment against negative forces. This is our collective wish and prayer," he added.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also extended support to the protest and appealed to Wangchuk to end his protest, insisting his life was precious.
According to the organisers, Wangchuk has lost 8.2 kg since he began fasting.
The CJP has been holding a protest at Jantar Mantar demanding Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Wangchuk joined the agitation on June 28 and has been on an indefinite fast since then. The organisation has announced a march to Parliament on July 20.
(With inputs from PTI)
