Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday joined educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, throwing his weight behind the ongoing hunger strike over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. In a pointed political statement, Kejriwal called on the Centre to remove Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and hand the portfolio to Wangchuk instead.
We’re really very proud of you Sonam ji… pic.twitter.com/rxKrJTtwy7
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 16, 2026
Wangchuk, who has been leading the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at the site, is currently in the 19th day of his indefinite fast. He is demanding accountability from the government over repeated paper leaks and evaluation lapses in national competitive exams. Kejriwal, addressing the crowd alongside AAP leader Sanjay Singh, said the government had failed students by allowing recurring irregularities without consequence. He pointed to the aftermath of the NEET paper leak, alleging it had driven students to take drastic steps, and argued that no real corrective action had followed either that episode or the subsequent CBSE evaluation controversy.
धर्मेंद्र प्रधान को तो इस्तीफ़ा देना चाहिए और सोनम वांगचुक को देश का शिक्षा मंत्री बनाना चाहिए। pic.twitter.com/iqhpeVEYFh
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 16, 2026
The former Delhi Chief Minister framed his appeal directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to replace Pradhan with Wangchuk, whom he described as a figure of proven integrity in the education space. Kejriwal also invoked the 2011 Anna Hazare anti-corruption movement, drawing a parallel between that mobilisation and the current student-led protest, and warned the government that ignoring the demonstrators’ concerns could carry electoral consequences.
Opposition Leaders Rally Behind Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike
Kejriwal was not alone in visiting the protest site. Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav and fellow party MP Ruchi Veera also met Wangchuk to express solidarity, while farmer leader and SKM figure Rakesh Tikait arrived to voice support for the students. Yadav appealed to the government to show greater sensitivity and open a dialogue with the protesters, adding that compassion should guide the state’s response to a prolonged hunger strike. She also urged students, youth groups and opposition parties to join a planned march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the start of the Monsoon Session, saying her party intended to keep raising the issue inside the House until action was taken.
The growing show of political support comes amid concern over Wangchuk’s deteriorating health after more than two and a half weeks without food. Protesters have continued to press their central demand: Pradhan’s resignation and systemic reform of India’s examination processes.
Delhi High Court Steps In Over Wangchuk’s Health
As the protest entered its third week, the Delhi High Court intervened on the question of Wangchuk’s wellbeing. A bench led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed authorities to ensure his medical condition is clinically monitored on a daily basis, emphasising that every citizen’s life is precious and that government agencies must take all necessary steps to protect it. The court also ordered that any medical intervention recommended by government doctors be administered without delay. The directions were issued while the bench was disposing of a public interest litigation filed over concerns regarding the prolonged strike.
With the hunger strike now well past its second week and opposition pressure mounting, all eyes remain on whether the Centre will respond before the planned July 20 march to Parliament, or whether the standoff at Jantar Mantar will continue to escalate.