What Sonam Wangchuk said on Cockroach Janta Party's viral celebration videos
Activist Sonam Wangchuk weighed in on the controversy over viral videos showing members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) partying after Dharmendra Pradhan quit as
Activist Sonam Wangchuk weighed in on the controversy over viral videos showing members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) partying after Dharmendra Pradhan quit as Union Education Minister. "Victory must be accompanied by humility," Wangchuk said, calling on supporters to celebrate "with dignity, restraint, and responsibility". The 59-year-old added that maintaining respect and humility is as important as achieving success. His remarks come amid a fierce debate on social media over visuals of the CJP's core members dancing and celebrating Pradhan's resignation hours after calling off their month-long protest. Read Full Story Wangchuk became the figurehead of the CJP-led students' protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. After going on an indefinite hunger strike, he stayed alongside CJP protesters until police forcibly shifted him to a government-run hospital. He ended his 26-day fast on July 23 after the government assured him that no legal action would be taken against student protesters, and that families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide following the paper leak would receive adequate compensation.
CJP FACES FLAK The celebration videos of the CJP, which began as a satirical social media page two months ago, triggered a storm of criticism online. Supporters of the movement and political opponents alike lashed out, questioning the timing and optics of the festivities. Some social media users argued the celebrations were insensitive given that the movement was partly driven by the suicides of students after the NEET-UG paper leak. Others accused the CJP leadership of celebrating while many rank-and-file protesters continue to face arrests in several states. Amid the backlash, CJP spokesperson Saurva Das said the videos reflected the spirit of a younger generation. "We can sit on the road for as long as it takes. We can protest while dancing. We can organise while sipping cold coffee," Das wrote on X on Monday.
"That's just how this generation is. Confident, creative, resilient, and IMPOSSIBLE to stereotype." He added that the government and some television anchors "simply do not understand the language of Gen Z and younger generations" and said, "The uncles and aunties can keep complaining. They'll just have to deal with us!" PARTY AT 5-STAR HOTEL? Among the critics was senior Supreme Court advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, who alleged that they were partying at a 5-star hotel. "The CJP leadership throwing a victory party at a hotel! After Delhi witnessed days of violence, these so-called youth activists switched on the music and began dancing," he wrote on X. "Who funded the travel, food, accommodation, equipment and logistics throughout this agitation?" Das rejected claims that the event was extravagant. "One thing I want to make clear, whenever such visuals come, people tend to exaggerate a lot.
The BriefWire