Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, supporting his indefinite hunger strike against alleged examination paper leaks and demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, even suggesting Wangchuk replace Pradhan as education minister. Wangchuk, on his 19th day of fasting and facing critical health warnings, has vowed to continue his protest until the government addresses the issue, highlighting the repeated leaks and their impact on students. Kejriwal drew parallels to the anti-corruption movement, urging the government to listen to students and Wangchuk, while the Delhi High Court has ordered daily monitoring of Wangchuk's health, and NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil appealed for the activist to end his fast.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, supporting his indefinite hunger strike against alleged examination paper leaks and demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, even suggesting Wangchuk replace Pradhan as education minister. Wangchuk, on his 19th day of fasting and facing critical health warnings, has vowed to continue his protest until the government addresses the issue, highlighting the repeated leaks and their impact on students. Kejriwal drew parallels to the anti-corruption movement, urging the government to listen to students and Wangchuk, while the Delhi High Court has ordered daily monitoring of Wangchuk's health, and NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil appealed for the activist to end his fast.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, supporting his indefinite hunger strike against alleged examination paper leaks and demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, even suggesting Wangchuk replace Pradhan as education minister. Wangchuk, on his 19th day of fasting and facing critical health warnings, has vowed to continue his protest until the government addresses the issue, highlighting the repeated leaks and their impact on students. Kejriwal drew parallels to the anti-corruption movement, urging the government to listen to students and Wangchuk, while the Delhi High Court has ordered daily monitoring of Wangchuk's health, and NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil appealed for the activist to end his fast.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, on Thursday, backed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's protest against alleged examination paper leaks and the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, suggesting that Wangchuk be made the country's education minister instead.

Kejriwal made the remarks after meeting Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, where the activist has been on an indefinite hunger strike over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. The AAP chief’s visit comes amid criticism that both the government and the opposition's top leadership have largely ignored the protest.

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been protesting at Jantar Mantar, demanding Pradhan's resignation over the alleged paper leaks and has announced a march to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session.

Addressing the gathering, Kejriwal said the government should listen to the concerns of students and Wangchuk instead of ignoring repeated incidents of examination paper leaks.

"Every year, exam papers get leaked and youth pay the price. I appeal government to listen to students and Wangchuk," the former Delhi chief minister said.

Calling for Pradhan's resignation, Kejriwal said Wangchuk should be appointed as the country's education minister.

Recalling the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, Kejriwal said, "While coming here today, I was reminded of April 4, 2011, when I sat at this very place with Anna Hazare during the anti-corruption movement. Three years later, that government lost power because it failed to listen and allowed arrogance to overtake accountability."

He said young people from across the country had come together to demand reforms in the examination system and praised them for raising their voices for a fair and transparent education system.

Praising Wangchuk, Kejriwal said the activist was fighting not for himself but for students and young people across the country. Referring to Wangchuk's indefinite fast, he said the activist had put his own life at stake for the cause and expressed respect for everyone participating in the movement, including those who had faced persecution and other hardships.

The remarks came as Wangchuk completed the 19th day of his indefinite hunger strike, with doctors warning that he had lost more than nine kilograms and entered a critical stage where the prolonged fast could begin affecting his organs.

Meanwhile, NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil appealed to Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, describing him as "a national asset" and saying he should not be forced to risk his life because of the government's refusal to accept responsibility for repeated examination paper leaks.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court directed the authorities to monitor Wangchuk's health on a daily basis.

However, Wangchuk ruled out ending his fast, saying that doing so without any response from the government would send the wrong message.

"If I eat, what message will go? The message to the government will be that there is no need for accountability. Protesters sit and leave..." he said.

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