Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday extended his support to climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the ongoing youth-led protests at Jantar Mantar, urging the Central Government to listen to the demonstrators’ demands over the alleged irregularities in the 2026 NEET-UG examination.
According to a post by the Aam Aadmi Party on X, Kejriwal reached Jantar Mantar in support of Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 19 days.
Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal launched a sharp attack on the Centre and warned that ignoring the movement could have political consequences.
“Listen to the youth, the movement, and Sonam Wangchuk; otherwise, three years later, you (Central Government) will meet a 2014-like fate,” Kejriwal said.
He also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and proposed that Wangchuk be appointed as the country’s Education Minister.
“I also extend a proposal – Dharmendra Pradhan should resign, and the Prime Minister should make Sonam Wangchuk the Education Minister of the country,” Kejriwal said. “I suggest to the PM: remove Dharmendra Pradhan and make Sonam Wangchuk the Union Education Minister.”
Kejriwal’s remarks came amid intensified protests at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in national competitive examinations and broader concerns regarding education policy.
HIGH COURT DIRECTS TO MONITOR WANGCHUK’S HEALTH
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court on Thursday directed that Wangchuk’s medical condition be clinically monitored every day during his ongoing hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that “the life of every citizen is precious, and all efforts ought to be made by the government authorities to save the same.”
The High Court also directed that any medical intervention required, based on the opinion of government doctors, be provided without delay. The directions came while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed over concerns regarding Wangchuk’s deteriorating health during his prolonged fast.
Wangchuk, an engineer, education reformer and climate activist from Ladakh, entered the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Thursday.
The protest centres on the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the 2026 NEET-UG examination and the high-profile paper leak controversy.
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Published By:
Akshat Trivedi
Published On:
Jul 16, 2026 18:57 IST
