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
Cockroaches arrive in large numbers at the protest, demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation..
The Cockroach Janata Party held a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, June 6th. It is being reported that the Delhi Police has granted permission for their proposed protest. The party announced via social media that supporters would go directly to the protest site and would not need to go to the Parliament Street Police Station. They wrote, “Delhi Police has granted permission for the protest at Jantar Mantar” and “Cockroaches are coming, Dharmendra Pradhan is leaving.” It is being reported that on June 6th, under the leadership of Abhijeet Dipke, party members protested at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and reforms to the system over examination controversies. Party spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka also appealed to supporters to bring the tricolor flag, books, flowers, and their families. He appealed to the Prime Minister, saying, “Prime Minister, your Education Minister is incompetent, due to whom our education is being ruined. Paper leaks, the suffering of millions of children, and the increasing number of suicide cases are occurring. Dismiss him and restore our faith in democracy.” As Abhijit Dipke emerged from the airport, he was seen holding a book by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, which he displayed with his hands raised before exiting. He also demanded a VIP exit, for which CJP representatives spoke with GMR officials for 30 minutes. After the talks, the Delhi Police and CISF intervened and rejected Dipke’s demand, forcing him to exit via the normal route. According to sources, a crowd of lakhs gathered at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, due to which a heavy police force and Rapid Action Force were deployed there since Friday. Due to the large crowd, Delhi Police appeared very cautious about the protest. They only allowed people to enter after checking, and the protesters were also monitored through drones. People from various parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bulandshahr, Uttarakhand, and Punjab participated in the protest, demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. Some Aam Aadmi Party councillors were also seen at the Cockroach Janata Party protest. The CJP distributed pamphlets in Hindi and English to the protesters, outlining the objectives of the protest. During the protest, two groups shouted slogans against the RSS, leading to an argument between them. Sources indicate that the police began arresting protesters at 4:30 pm, with permission until 5:00 pm. Sonam Wangchuk reached Jantar Mantar and thanked the government for allowing the protest, saying, “I have brought a message of goodwill for everyone. I thank the government for allowing a peaceful protest.” Addressing the crowd from the stage, he said, “Today we have peacefully presented our views. The government has given shelter to cockroaches. We have come to this issue of education, not to demand elections or protests. We hope the government will take positive action in the future. There is talk of resignation, but let’s talk about responsibility.” He also said, “We are happy with the government’s decision because people say they will not allow this to happen. However, since the issue of education has been raised, we hope the government will take the right steps and meet our demands in the coming days.” As Sonam Wangchuk arrived at Jantar Mantar, slogans in his support were continuously raised, “What kind of Education Minister should we have? He should be like Sonam Baghchuk.” Sonam Bagchuk stopped the crowd, saying, “I have no desire; the youth should come forward, and the factories of a developed India are the village schools. The children of all public representatives should be in government schools. When will the system change when their children are in government schools, not private schools?” After this, CJP organizers, including Abhijeet Dipke, announced the end of the protest on the microphone and told the people to vacate Jantar Mantar.