Paper Leak Protests Intensify: Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike Hits 16th Day, many Leaders Back Students
Students and youth are staging a continuous sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, demanding accountability for the paper leak, reforms to the examination system, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Cockroach Janata Party’s protest continued for the 24th day on Monday, June 13th. Meanwhile, the protest continues to receive support from political leaders, academics, and social organizations across the country. Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike in support of the protest has entered its 16th day. CJP and movement founder Abhijeet Dipke said the government should not let this issue become a battle of egos, as the future of students and lives are at stake. He said admitting mistakes is not a sign of weakness but a sign of maturity, accountability, and a willingness to reform the system. Dipke said that the protest is demanding accountability for the repeated irregularities in the examination system and justice for the students. Former Law and Industry Minister P. Rajeev reached Jantar Mantar Furthermore, former Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja, former Finance Minister and current MLA K.N. Bala Gopal, and former Law and Industry Minister P. Rajeev reached Jantar Mantar, where all three leaders met with students and expressed concern over paper leaks and the persistent irregularities in the examination system. The leaders stated that ensuring fair, transparent, and trustworthy examination systems is essential to secure the future of the country’s youth. Samajwadi Party MP Pushpendra Saroj also reached the protest site and supported the students’ demands. He said that hard-working students should be treated fairly and that the examination system should be competitive. Aam Aadmi Party MLA Sanjeev Jha also reached Jantar Mantar to meet with the protesters and express his support for the movement. Himanshu, President of the Bhim Army Delhi, also reached the protest site and expressed support for the students’ protest on behalf of the Azad Samaj Party. Social activist Lawrence Jyoti Gogoi also joined the protest and said that the future of lakhs of youth is being affected due to repeated exam related irregularities and those responsible for this should be held accountable.
Sonam Wangchuk : Man Who Inspired 3 Idiots Fights NEET Paper Leaks..
Sonam Wangchuk, a Ladakhi engineer, education reformer, and environmental activist, is known as the “real-life Phusk Wangdu” and “Rancho.” Aamir Khan’s iconic character in the Bollywood blockbuster film “3 Idiots” was inspired by his life, innovation, and education reforms, making him famous both domestically and internationally. He was born on September 1, 1966, in Uletokpo, Leh district, Ladakh. Due to the lack of a school in his village, he did not receive formal schooling until the age of nine. In 1987, he earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar. After completing his B.Tech. in 1988, he founded the Student Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh with his friends and brother. With the support of the government education department and the villagers, he launched Operation New Hope. He founded Ladags Melong, Ladakh’s only print magazine, and served as its editor from 1993 to 2005. In 2025, he was tasked with drafting the Ladakh Education and Tourism Policy for the Vision Document. In 2011, he also pursued advanced studies at the Crater School of Architecture in Grenoble, France. In January 2014, he launched a project called Ice Stupa, which aimed to find a solution to the water crisis for Ladakh’s farmers by arresting the impact of meltwater from the natural Hum River during the months of April and May. In September 2016, he led an expedition to South Lhonak Lake in northwest Sikkim. In 2013, at the repeated request of a student group, he founded the New Ladakh Movement, a Ladakh version of the Green Party, to work for sustainable education, environment, and economy, and to unite local political leaders under one banner for development. During the Galwan Valley clash on the India-China border in June 2020, he appealed to use Indian wallet power and boycott Chinese products. Many celebrities in the country also supported his campaign. In March 2024, he started a fast unto death demanding constitutional safeguards for the Union Territory and protection of Ladakh from the mining lobby and went on a hunger strike for statehood for Ladakh. On 26 September 2025, he started a movement demanding full statehood for Ladakh and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and also sat on an indefinite hunger strike in Ladakh to press for his demands. On the 15th day of the hunger strike, protesting youth in Leh suddenly became violent, vandalizing the BJP office and the Ladakh Hill Council complex, and setting police vehicles on fire. Four civilians were killed and over 50 security personnel were injured during the clashes. The Home Ministry and Ladakh administration accused Sonam Wangchuk of inciting youth to protest through his speeches and social media statements, similar to student protests in Nepal and Bangladesh. To maintain peace in Ladakh, security agencies detained him and sent him to Jodhpur Central Jail, Rajasthan. Nearly six months later, on March 14, 2026, the Home Ministry lifted the stringent National Security Act against him and released him from Jodhpur Jail. Upon his release, Wangchuk issued a statement, saying he was against violence and that his statements had been misrepresented. Recently, he joined the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), a movement he supported during protests against youth and students and demanded reforms in the country’s education system, and described himself as a loyal member of the movement. And on 6 June 2026, he also participated in the CJP protest in support of students at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Awards 1996 : Governor’s Medal for Educational Reforms in Jammu and Kashmir2001 : Man of the Year by The Week2002 : Ashoka Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurship, by Ashoka USA2004 : Green Teacher Award by Sanctuary Asia2008 : Real Heroes Award by CNN-IBN TV2014 : UNESCO Chair Earthen Architecture, by Craterre France2016 : International Terra Award for Best Earth Building2016 : Rolex Award for Entrepreneurship2017 : State Award for Outstanding Environmentalist by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir2017 : Global Award for Sustainable Architecture2017 : GQ Men of the Year Awards, Social Entrepreneur of the Year2017 : Indians for Collective Action (ICA) Honorary Award, San Francisco, CA2018 : Eminent Technologist of the Himalayan Region by IIT Mandi2018 : Honorary D.Litt. by Symbiosis International2018 : Ramon Macques Award
From Courtroom Comment to Viral Protest: ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ Takes Social Media by Storm
A comment by Chief Justice Suryakant has sparked a nationwide uproar, and this outcry has led to the formation of a new party, dubbed the Cockroach Janata Party. While hearing a petition last Friday, Chief Justice Suryakant compared young people to cockroaches. Justice Suryakant stated that some young people are like cockroaches, unable to find employment or find a place in any profession. Some enter the media field, some become social media activists, some become RTI activists, and then they begins attacking system. This statement by the Chief Justice sparked a major uproar, leading to the formation of a new party, the Cockroach Janata Party. This party is not meant to contest elections, but rather, it was formed by young people in protest of the Chief Justice’s remarks, and it has been garnering considerable attention on social media. A page for this party was also launched on the social media platform Ek, which is being joined by many young people. Within 24 hours, the party has gained over 15,000 followers and over 40,000 members. The party has stated in its bio that it will raise the voice of the unemployed. Since the party’s formation, several members of Mamata Banerjee’s party have joined. Mahua Moitra and former cricketer Kirti Azad have even formally signed up for the party on social media. However, following the uproar, Chief Justice Surya Kant issued a clarification, stating that his statement had been misrepresented. He issued a clarification, stating that he was saddened by media reports alleging that he had criticized young people.