Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday reached out to activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on a hunger strike seeking Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, urging him to end his indefinite fast while assuring him that the party would continue to press for the minister’s removal.The appeal marks the Congress’ first official response to Wangchuk’s fast and came on the 19th day of his hunger strike.In a post on X, Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal said, “Shri Sonam Wangchuk has now been on a hunger strike for 19 days, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister. The Indian National Congress has been making this very demand for over a month and a half. We share the anguish and outrage that Shri Wangchuk ji feels, especially due to the lack of accountability within the Modi Govt – for the collapse of the examination system in particular.““In view of his health condition, we appeal to Shri Wangchuk to end his fast. His concerns are our concerns and that of other Opposition parties as well. Rest assured, we will continue to confront the Modi government and demand the Education Minister’s resignation,” he added.Venugopal’s appeal came amid calls from some quarters for Congress MP and leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi to join Wangchuk at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, where the activist has been on a hunger strike as part of an indefinite sit-in organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical platform, seeking accountability over the NEET paper leak and other issues.In recent days, several opposition leaders, actors, and eminent citizens have urged Wangchuk to end his hunger strike, saying he would need to preserve his health for the “longer battle ahead.”The Ladakh-based environmentalist and educator has lost more than 9 kg since beginning his fast on June 28. The CJP’s protest has been underway since June 21.Led by Rahul Gandhi, the Congress has been holding its own student outreach programme demanding Pradhan’s resignation and accountability over education-related issues.The CJP has called for a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the start of the Monsoon session.