NEW DELHI: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to break his silence over education activist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike and demanding the resignation of union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.The letter comes as the CJP’s protest at Jantar Mantar entered its 15th day, while Wangchuk completed seven days of his indefinite fast. The party has been demanding accountability over alleged exam paper leaks and irregularities, particularly in national-level examinations.In his letter, Dipke questioned why the Centre had not responded despite Wangchuk’s worsening health.“We have been sitting in protest at Jantar Mantar for the past 15 days, and today marks the 7th day of educationist Sonam Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike. How long will your government choose to ignore our voices, sir?” he wrote.Dipke said a hunger strike in a democratic society is meant to create moral pressure on those in power.“The underlying principle is simple: when someone like Sonam Wangchuk, a man who has dedicated his entire life, mind, and soul to this country and to the cause of education, refuses to consume food, it is supposed to elicit a conscious response, whether moral or political, from the government of the day. Yet, you have not spoken a single word,” he said.Explaining the reasons behind the protest, Dipke said it was driven by repeated exam paper leaks, alleged government inaction and the deaths of students.“We are sitting here because your government has repeatedly failed to stop exam paper leaks that have shattered the faith and future of crores of young Indians. We are sitting here because your Education Minister refuses to accept moral responsibility and resign from a post he has occupied for close to five years,” the letter said.He also alleged that the government had failed to provide justice to families of students who died by suicide.“This protest is not just a political exercise but also a desperate cry to save the lives of our youth. Before we sat for the protest on June 20, 11 students had committed suicide due to the compounding trauma of the paper leaks and exam cancellations. Today, as you continue to look away, that devastating count has crossed 29 students. Every single day your government chooses silence, the body count of India’s future rises,” Dipke wrote.The CJP founder further criticised remarks allegedly made by senior leaders against the protesters.“Instead of an empathetic dialogue, your minister Dharmendra Pradhan has labeled us terrorists, and your party president has called us names, threatening that the youth of India will be ‘taught a lesson’ for daring to raise our voices against this broken, corrupt system and these preventable deaths,” he said.Questioning the Prime Minister’s silence, Dipke wrote, “Your resounding silence makes us ask—do you truly believe we are just ‘cockroaches’? If you, as the Prime Minister, refuse to respond to the Cockroach Janta Party’s peaceful hunger strike, your silence stands as a tacit admission that you view the youth of this country as nothing more than pests to be ignored.”The letter also accused the Delhi Police of using force against peaceful protesters and disrespecting books kept at the protest site.“Under the direct orders of ACP Ajay Sharma and Inspector Neeraj Sahu, police personnel threw books onto the muddy roads—specifically targeting literature on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Dr B.R. Ambedkar, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh,” Dipke alleged.He demanded the immediate suspension of the two police officers.“We ask you, Prime Minister ji: if students protesting for a better, fairer education system cannot even keep a small library at their protest site for others to read, what kind of society are you building? Why is there this deep-seated hatred for education and the icons who shaped our Constitution and freedom?” he wrote.Concluding the letter, Dipke urged PM Modi to act before Wangchuk’s health deteriorates further.“We demand that you break your silence, listen to the voice of India’s future before it is completely lost, and hold your minister Dharmendra Pradhan accountable,” he said.The protest began on June 20 over alleged irregularities in several examinations, including NEET. According to the CJP, Wangchuk has lost around five kilograms since beginning his fast, and his health is deteriorating.On Friday, Wangchuk welcomed progress in talks between the Centre and representatives from Ladakh on the region’s demands, but urged the government to also address accountability in the education sector.The protest has drawn support from several opposition leaders, student groups and civil society activists, including CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, CPI leader D Raja, CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, social activist Yogendra Yadav, advocate Prashant Bhushan, RTI activist Nikhil Dey and Trinamool Congress MPs Mahua Moitra and Sagarika Ghose.
