Sonam Wangchuk: Activist on hunger strike becomes symbol of CJP protest

Key Points:

• The Cockroach Janta Party, a youth-led movement in India, has been protesting for over two months against alleged leaks in college entrance exams, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and systemic reforms.
• Activist Sonam Wangchuk, on a hunger strike for three weeks, has become a symbol of the movement, which began after a Supreme Court judge referred to unemployed youth as "cockroaches," a term the protesters embraced.
• Despite amassing over 21 million Instagram followers and gaining support from opposition leaders and celebrities, on-the-ground protests in New Delhi see modest turnout, with hundreds to around a thousand participants enduring harsh conditions.
• The government, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, has largely ignored the protesters' demands and refused to negotiate, prompting organizers to plan a march to Parliament to escalate their campaign.
• Protesters emphasize their commitment to peaceful civil disobedience and assert that the movement represents a broader call for accountability and trust restoration in Indian institutions.