Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has completed nineteen days, and right in the middle of that, Arvind Kejriwal's appearance on the Cockroach Party's protest stage has set off a fresh political storm. The movement, which was launched with high hopes, is now facing growing questions about how and when the fast will actually end, but Kejriwal's arrival on stage added an entirely new twist to the story. Abhijit Deepke and his team, who run the Cockroach Party's agitation, have long been linked to Kejriwal's camp, though the AAP leader himself had stayed away from the stage until now. This was the first time he stepped forward and became visibly part of the movement, and his arrival changed the entire mood on the ground.
19 Days Into Wangchuk's Fast, Court Voices Concern Over His Health
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has been sitting on a hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for the past 19 days, as part of the Cockroach Janata Party's protest. Given his steadily worsening health, a court has expressed concern. The government's first response on the matter said doctors are continuously monitoring his health and that proper treatment will be provided if required. Wangchuk himself addressed his condition, saying, "My condition is not such that I will die in two or four days." Even after such a long fast, his statement shows he remains firm on his stand, while appeals for support keep going out to opposition leaders.
Kejriwal Arrives on Stage, Embraces Abhijit Deepke
The moment Arvind Kejriwal reached Jantar Mantar, the first thing he did was hug Abhijit Deepke. This image matters because Deepke has long faced allegations of being close to Kejriwal and had previously worked with the Aam Aadmi Party. Cockroach Party workers present at the venue were visibly delighted to see Kejriwal. The excitement and joy on Deepke's face at seeing Kejriwal was not visible when he met the other leaders who showed up that day. Dimple Yadav and Rakesh Tikait were also present at the venue, but the photographs make the contrast clear: as soon as he met Kejriwal, Deepke immediately started recording video on his phone and then warmly embraced Sanjay Singh as well.
Is the Cockroach Movement Really Kejriwal's 'B-Team'?
Ever since the Cockroach movement began, there has been talk that its methods look familiar, the same Jantar Mantar, the same dharna, the same hunger strike, the same fast that Kejriwal himself has used in the past. It has also been said that several people running the movement have had some connection to Kejriwal at some point, but until now Kejriwal himself had never openly stepped onto the Cockroach Party's stage. Now that he has arrived in person and embraced its leaders so warmly, people are openly saying the Cockroach movement looks like Kejriwal's B-team. This comes even though the Cockroach Party had earlier claimed it would keep its movement apolitical and keep leaders away from it. That claim itself has now come under question after Kejriwal's public appearance on the stage.
From Dimple Yadav to Omar Abdullah, Leaders Rally in Support
Dimple Yadav and Rakesh Tikait also reached Jantar Mantar. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah extended his support, saying, "No attempt has been made yet to talk to Sonam Wangchuk. We don't know what the government's attitude will be going forward." Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal also reacted, saying, "Pradhan ji will never resign, nor will the government tell him to resign." Actress Sonakshi Sinha also spoke in support of Wangchuk, saying, "He is fighting for the truth, for something good. But why isn't anyone listening?" Singer Vishal Dadlani appealed, saying, "I request you to break your fast. I request the government to listen to them." So many well-known faces coming out in support at once shows this is no longer just a local protest.
Kejriwal's Controversial Remark: Make Wangchuk Education Minister
From the stage, Arvind Kejriwal said, "Listen to the Cockroach movement, listen to Sonam Wangchuk. Otherwise, three years from now, you will meet the same fate they met in 2014." Along with this, Kejriwal also said that Sonam Wangchuk should be made education minister. The remark immediately drew criticism. Critics pointed out that when the Aam Aadmi Party itself was in government in Delhi, it could have made Sonam Wangchuk education minister instead of Manish Sisodia. Now that the Aam Aadmi Party governs Punjab, they argue Kejriwal could make Wangchuk education minister there, and if Narendra Modi is not willing to appoint him, Kejriwal himself could do so and demonstrate what kind of education minister Wangchuk would make. This remark by Kejriwal has become the newest flashpoint in the controversy.
Congress Keeps Its Distance as INDIA Bloc Allies Rally Round
While almost all the allies of the INDIA bloc appeared active at the Cockroach Party's movement, Congress has kept a clear distance from it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a marathon meeting on Wednesday, and the very next day, on Thursday, Sonia Gandhi also held a separate meeting of her own. This sequence of events suggests Congress is keeping itself apart from the rest of its allies on this matter and working on its own separate strategy, even as other INDIA bloc leaders keep showing up on the Cockroach movement's stage one after another.
Questions Over Kejriwal's Stand on Ram Mandir
Another question being raised about Arvind Kejriwal is that the same leader who has been raising the Ram Mandir issue these days is, on the same stage, embracing people accused of clapping for those who insulted Ram. Critics say this contradiction in Kejriwal's position has become even more visible after his open appearance on the Cockroach movement's stage.
Taken together, the Cockroach Party's movement, which was launched with big ambitions, now finds itself surrounded by questions of its own. On one side, both the court and the government are keeping a close watch on Sonam Wangchuk's health, and on the other, Arvind Kejriwal's open entry into the movement has only made the story more complicated. It remains to be seen in the coming days exactly how, and where, this fast will finally end.
