Hazare began a hunger strike on 5 April 2011 but ended it four days later after the then Union government formed a committee to examine his demands. His second hunger strike in August that year lasted 12 days.
Asked why Wangchuk and other protesters were continuing their fast beyond the duration of Hazare’s agitation, Dipke said, “That was a different India… In today’s India, human lives are not valued.”
He also criticised the government for what he described as its lack of concern over Wangchuk’s health.
“If they do not value his life, who are we… We are cockroaches,” Dipke said.
According to the CJP founder, protesters have repeatedly urged Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, but the climate activist has refused to do so until the government accepts their demands.
Dipke said leaders from several opposition parties were expected to participate in a proposed march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament on 20 July, the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
Earlier on Monday, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) delegation led by former Delhi chief minister Atishi visited the protest site and extended support to the agitation.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP Amra Ram and senior party leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan also expressed solidarity with the protesters, according to the CJP.
In a post on X, Atishi said repeated paper leaks were “destroying the future of crores of youths” and noted that Wangchuk and several students had been on hunger strike for 16 days demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
“We stand with them in this fight for the rights of the youth. This authoritarian BJP government will have to bow,” she wrote.
The CJP is demanding Pradhan’s resignation and Rs 1 crore in compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide over alleged examination irregularities. It has also announced a peaceful march to Parliament on 20 July.
The protest began on 20 June, while Wangchuk joined the agitation on 28 June and has remained on an indefinite hunger strike since.
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