'Jam-packed' with cockroaches: Kunal Kamra, Chandrashekhar Azad join CJP protest
Kunal Kamra, Chandrashekhar Azad join CJP protest on day 25 Tharoor extends support Film personalities appeal to Wangchuk Health remains under close watch NEW DELHI
Kunal Kamra, Chandrashekhar Azad join CJP protest on day 25 Tharoor extends support Film personalities appeal to Wangchuk Health remains under close watch NEW DELHI: The Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) protest seeking Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination drew fresh support on Wednesday, with comedian Kunal Kamra and Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad joining demonstrators at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.Kamra attended the protest wearing a T-shirt featuring Mahatma Gandhi, while Azad met education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has now been on an indefinite hunger strike for 18 days. The CJP-led agitation itself has continued for 25 days.Welcoming Azad's participation, CJP founder Abhijit Dipke said, "A big thank you to Bhim Army Chief sir for joining CJP’s protest today and extending his support to our movement. Your presence has lifted the spirits of the students who have been protesting for the past 25 days."CJP has called for a mass hunger strike on Thursday. "Tomorrow, July 16th, join us for 1-day mass hunger strike in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk and the students of this country," it said.Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also expressed support for the students' agitation, publishing an open letter addressed to the protesters at Jantar Mantar in which he described himself as "deeply troubled" by the challenges facing young Indians.Recalling his own middle-class upbringing, Tharoor said his education had depended on a fair and merit-based examination system."This is personal for me.
I was born to a middle-class family... For a family like ours, merit was not a slogan. Scholarships, fair examinations, honest results — these were the only way one salary could carry three children's dreams," he wrote.As Wangchuk's fast entered its third week, several members of the film fraternity appealed to him to end the hunger strike, saying his health was vital for the movement.Veteran actor Shabana Azmi shared a message on Instagram, urging Wangchuk to prioritise his health while continuing his campaign for justice."Our country needs people like you. You have stood up against injustice and stood firmly for the truth. We are proud of you. We earnestly request you to end your fast because your guidance inspires and strengthens our students. This is a long struggle, and it is important that you remain healthy so you can continue to lead it. We stand with you," she wrote.Actor Soni Razdan also appealed to Wangchuk to call off the fast, posting, "Dear Sonam Wangchuk, For your health we all do pray.
The BriefWire