The indefinite hunger strike launched by AISA in solidairty with the activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar’s CJP Protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the scrapping of the National Testing Agency has witnessed a serious deterioration in the health of the student protesters, with two hunger strikers being hospitalised within a week.
On July 8, AISA leader Comrade Hrishikesh was admitted to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after his health condition deteriorated during the strike. As the protest continued, another AISA leader, Comrade Deepak, was admitted to the same hospital on July 13, the 16th day of the indefinite hunger strike, after suffering a sharp decline in his health.
According to AISA, Deepak had lost around 15 percent of his body weight and his blood pressure had fallen to a critically low level of 80/40 mmHg over the preceding three days. The attending medical team advised immediate hospitalisation due to the risk of organ damage.
AISA said that even as student after student has been hospitalised while participating in the indefinite hunger strike, the Union government has failed to respond to the movement's demands. Following Deepak's hospitalisation, the remaining hunger strikers, Neha, Manish and Aameen, resolved to continue the fast.
The Jantar Mantar protest has inspired solidarity mobilisations across the country. On June 29, AISA leaders in Anantapur launched a hunger strike in front of the District Collector's Office in solidarity with the Delhi movement. On July 6, AISA and the Revolutionary Youth Association organised a Raj Bhavan March in Ranchi against paper leaks, the commercialisation of education, the cluster system and in support of the indefinite hunger strike. Despite police attempts to stop the march, protesters continued their mobilisation.
On July 7, students and youth in Allahabad organised a militant demonstration against recurring irregularities and paper leaks in examinations, including the UP Lekhpal, UPSI, TGT, PGT, NEET and Assistant Professor recruitment examinations. The protesters demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, effective measures to stop paper leaks, and a transparent and fair examination and recruitment system.
The same day, AISA organised a one-day hunger strike and dharna in Kolkata in solidarity with the indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar against the NEET paper leak scam. Students, youth, teachers and others committed to the right to education participated in the protest, raising the demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
On July 11, RYA organised a protest march in Arwal in support of the Jantar Mantar movement, demanding justice for students affected by paper leaks, corruption in the examination system and student deaths. The march reiterated the demands for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and the scrapping of the NTA.
