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On Monday, Wangchuk's hunger strike entered its 16th day.(Photo Credits: Dynamite news)
New Delhi: Ongoing Cockroach Janta Party protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has received support from yet another senior opposition leader. On Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray urged Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to visit the protest site and extend support to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the students leading the movement.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Thackeray announced that he would personally visit Jantar Mantar and appeal to Gandhi and other political leaders to stand with the protesters.
"I will also go. Rahul Gandhi ji should also go. All those who have faith in the country's youth should go. People across the entire country should come out on the streets and support them," Thackeray said.
According to reports, Thackeray is expected to travel to Delhi on July 20 to join the protest.
Ladakh climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has been observing an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party. Several student leaders are also fasting alongside him.
On Monday, Wangchuk's hunger strike entered its 16th day, while the CJP protest completed 24 days.
Thackeray also appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast, saying his life was precious. At the same time, he criticised the Centre, accusing it of remaining insensitive to the activist's protest.
Cockroach Janta Party, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, who returned from Boston, kicked off an indefinite sit-in at Jantar Mantar on June 20th.
Protest was sparked by alleged wrongdoing in the NEET-UG paper where paper was allegedly leaked. The outfit is demanding the resignation of Union Cabinet Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and has also petitioned for compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who allegedly committed suicide in the wake of the controversy.
The satirically named outfit has over the last few weeks built a nationwide following with the opposition leaders increasingly rallying to support the campaign.
AAP, the Trinamool Congress, CPI and CPI(M) among other opposition parties have publicly expressed their support.
Leaders such as Sanjay Singh, Atishi, Mahua Moitra, Kirti Azad, MA Baby, Brinda Karat and KK Shailaja have either visited Jantar Mantar or expressed solidarity with the protesters.
However, the Congress has not officially joined the movement. Although Amravati MP Balwant Baswant Wankhede visited the protest site, Rahul Gandhi and the party's leadership have so far maintained a cautious distance.
Thackeray's appeal comes at a time when Rahul Gandhi has launched "Chhatron Ki Goonj" (Echo of Students), a campaign highlighting students' concerns and issues within India's education system.
While Congress has consistently criticised the government over examination irregularities, it is yet to announce formal support for the Cockroach Janta Party protest.
With more opposition leaders joining the movement and Sonam Wangchuk continuing his hunger strike, attention is now on whether Rahul Gandhi will visit Jantar Mantar and publicly back the protest, as urged by Uddhav Thackeray.
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