Sonam Wangchuk stated he is not in good shape but not severely ill either as he began the 19th day of his indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar on Thursday. He is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam. In a video message, the 59-year-old activist urged followers to join a planned peaceful march to Parliament on July 20 instead of asking him to end the protest. His physician, Dr Satish Lamba, reported that Wangchuk has lost more than 9 kg, bringing his weight to 57.15 kg. Vital signs showed blood pressure at 105/61 mmHg, blood sugar at 80 mg/dL and oxygen saturation at 97 percent. He remains conscious and alert but needs ongoing medical supervision. Several other protesters, including student leaders from AISA, are also fasting at the site, with some having lost significant weight and others hospitalized. Political figures including Shashi Tharoor, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, Uddhav Thackeray and Arvind Kejriwal have appealed to Wangchuk to stop the fast. A PIL has been filed in Delhi High Court seeking his hospitalization, while over 1,800 public figures expressed support for the demands but urged preservation of health for future efforts. The protest, started on June 19 by the satirical group CJP, calls for accountability on exam leaks and a transparent system.
