Opposition Leaders and Crowds Gather at Jantar Mantar to Support Sonam Wangchuk
On Thursday, July 16, 2026, activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi saw a massive increase in crowd sizes as prominent opposition politicians visited the protest site to express their solidarity and pressure the Union government to initiate dialogue. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav were among the key political figures who arrived at the landmark site to support the fasting activist.
Dimple Yadav, representing Mainpuri, urged the Union government to show sensitivity and open discussions with Mr. Wangchuk. She was accompanied by several other Samajwadi Party Lok Sabha MPs, including Dharmendra Yadav of Azamgarh, Mohibbullah Nadvi of Rampur, and Lakshmikant Nishad of Sant Kabir Nagar.
Former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal delivered a speech at the site, criticizing the current state of opportunities for children and reiterating demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He later suggested on social media that Mr. Wangchuk should replace Mr. Pradhan as the Education Minister.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) deputy general secretary A. Raja also met with Mr. Wangchuk and three concurrently striking students on Thursday, expressing his party's support. Meanwhile, Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal urged Mr. Wangchuk to break his fast while noting that the Congress party's concerns aligned with the activist's demands regarding exam irregularities.
The crowd at Jantar Mantar grew from a few hundred to well over a thousand people on Thursday as public interest intensified. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), founded by Abhijeet Dipke, has scheduled a march to Parliament on July 20, 2026, which Mr. Wangchuk has urged his supporters to attend.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also voiced concern for Mr. Wangchuk's health, calling for compassion and justice from the government. Additionally, Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh met with the activist, urging him to end his fast for the sake of his health.
