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3 Idiots' Omi Vaidya backs Sonam Wangchuk amid hunger strike: 'I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to die'
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Live UpdatesSonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike LIVE: Activist Sonam Wangchuk has ruled out ending his indefinite hunger strike, which has entered its 19th day. Wangchuk has been protesting along with the Cockroach Janta Party, seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET irregularities.Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike LIVE: Activist Sonam Wangchuk undergoes a morning medical check-up as he continues his indefinite hunger strike for the eighteenth consecutive day at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, (Hindustan Times)Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike Day 19 LIVE: Sonam Wangchuk has ruled out ending his indefinite hunger strike as more civil society members join politicians, activists, and celebrities urging him to end the fast, which has entered its 19th day on Thursday.Responding to the growing appeals, a visibly weak Wangchuk, in a video message shared late on Wednesday night, said, "I have received thousands of messages asking me to break my fast. Many senior politicians have come to me and spoken to me with love and concern."Some have even approached the court seeking directions to make me eat, he said.Seeking to allay concerns over his health, Wangchuk said medical examinations conducted so far had not indicated any immediate danger."My condition is not such that I will die in two-four days. Many medical tests have been conducted and the results are quite normal for an 18-day fast. An ECG was also done and it is not bad. I can continue for many more days," he said.Sonam Wangchuk's health updateAccording to the medical bulletin issued by the CJP, Wangchuk remains "very weak" and is under 24-hour medical vigilance.His weight has fallen to 57.15 kg, a drop of 400 grams in the last 24 hours, and 8.9 kg since he began his hunger strike.His blood pressure was recorded at 105/76, blood sugar at 80 mg/dL, oxygen saturation at 97 per cent, while hydration was described as fair.CJP to march to Parliament The CJP's protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination entered its 26th day. The outfit also announced a one-day mass hunger strike on Thursday ahead of its "Chalo Sansad" march on July 20.Follow updates here:16 Jul 2026, 09:55:50 AM ISTSonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike Day 19 LIVE: Don't ask me to end fast, says Wangchuk Sonam Wangchuk has ruled out ending his indefinite hunger strike despite appeals from political leaders and supporters, saying breaking the fast without any response from the government would send the wrong message."If I eat, what message will go? The message to the government will be that there is no need for accountability. Protesters sit and leave..." said Wangchuk and asked what would change if he ended the fast.Instead, he urged people to strengthen the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed Parliament march on July 20, saying students in schools and colleges should participate "in a real lesson in political science and democracy".HomeNewsIndiaSonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike LIVE: Sonam Wangchuk rules out ending fast, urges people to join CJP’s parliament march
3 Idiots actor Omi Vaidya has urged people to support education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, the real-life inspiration behind Phunsukh Wangdu, expressing concern over Wangchuk's health as his hunger strike continues.Actor Omi Vaidya, best known for playing Chatur Ramalingam in 3 Idiots, has appealed for public support for Sonam Wangchuk.Omi Vaidya, who won widespread recognition for his portrayal of the ambitious and competitive Chatur Ramalingam - popularly known as 'Silencer' - in Rajkumar Hirani's 2009 blockbuster 3 Idiots, has voiced concern over the health of education reformer and engineer Sonam Wangchuk, urging people to pay attention to his ongoing hunger strike.Omi Vaidya backs Sonam Wangchuk amid latter's hunger strikeSharing a video on social media, Vaidya introduced himself before making an emotional appeal to the public.He started the video with, "I don't want Phunsukh Wangdu to die. Hello idiots, pehchana? This is Omi Vaidya, Chatur from '3 Idiots' and Sadiq from 'The Office', and I have an important message for you. I don't really do this very often, so please listen up."Quick answers to key questions•5 QUESTIONSSonam Wangchuk's health has deteriorated significantly during his hunger strike, with reports indicating he has lost nearly 9 kilograms and is experiencing immense pain and muscle loss.Wangchuk is on a hunger strike to protest alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and to voice concerns over education, Ladakh's autonomy, and environmental protection.Omi Vaidya expressed his support for Sonam Wangchuk through a video message, urging the public to pay attention to Wangchuk's deteriorating health and the issues he is advocating for.The CJP is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who have died by suicide due to alleged examination irregularities.While many, including political figures, are urging Wangchuk to end his hunger strike for health reasons, he insists that the focus should be on getting the government to initiate a dialogue about the issues he is raising.The actor went on to remind viewers that Phunsukh Wangdu, the eccentric inventor who appears towards the end of 3 Idiots, was inspired by a real person."Did you know that Phunsukh Wangdu from '3 Idiots' is actually based on a real-life Ladakhi engineer, innovator, educator and reformer named Sonam Wangchuk? I've met this guy. He's a pretty interesting character," he said.Vaidya then expressed concern over Wangchuk's deteriorating health during the protest."Right now he is on a very long hunger strike. His blood sugar has gone down very much. I don't know if you've heard about this. I don't know if the media is reporting this. But this is a pretty important thing. Whether you agree with him or not, I don't really want this guy to die," Vaidya said in his video.View full ImageNew Delhi, Jul 14 (ANI): Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk on the 17th day of his indefinite hunger strike in support of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) campaign, seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and NEET paper leak, at Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (ANI Photo/Rahul Singh)(Rahul Singh)More about the situationAccording to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Wangchuk's condition has worsened during the fast, with the organisation claiming he has lost nearly 9 kilograms since joining the protest.Wangchuk has been participating in demonstrations over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination while also raising concerns about education, Ladakh's autonomy and environmental protection. The protestors have demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide.CJP has also announced a peaceful march to Parliament on 20 July during the Monsoon Session.About the 3 IdiotsReleased in 2009, 3 Idiots remains one of Hin
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