“Leave the flag, bring the tricolor”: Sonam Wangchuk’s open challenge to opposition parties

Sonam Wangchuk’s movement going on at Jantar Mantar for constitutional protection (6th Schedule) to Ladakh and against paper leak (NEET/CBSE) in the country has now reached a very delicate and dangerous point. Today is the 17th day of the fast unto death of famous environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk. According to doctors, his weight has reduced by 8 kg and the ‘muscle mass’ of his body is falling rapidly. But amid this humanitarian crisis, the movement seems to be torn between power and opposition. Let us know what is ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ and why the big political powers of the country are ‘silent’ on it.

‘Cockroach Janata Party’ and the new rage of youth

This movement is being led by Abhijeet Dipke, who had formed the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) in a sarcastic manner. Its aim is to connect the youth who are bored with traditional political parties and their ‘labels’. Initially the condition was that no political party would come on the stage with its flag, because the students believe that all parties are more or less responsible for the plight of the country. However, in view of Wangchuk’s deteriorating health, the conditions have now softened a bit – leave the party flag at home and bring only the tricolor.

Government’s ‘strictness’ and opposition’s ‘distance’

On one side is the central government, which is completely ignoring this movement. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has even called these protesters ‘B-team of terrorists’, while BJP national president Nitin Nabin has called them ‘virus and cockroaches’.

On the other hand, the distance of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi from this movement remains a topic of discussion. Although Congress is cornering the government on the issue of paper leak, Rahul Gandhi is missing from the stage of Jantar Mantar. According to sources, currently he is on a foreign trip and Congress is running its own separate campaign ‘Students’ Echo’. BJP took a jibe at this and said that when the youth of the country are on the streets, the leader of the opposition is abroad.

Anna Movement of 2011 vs ‘Cockroach March’ of 2026

This movement is being compared to Anna Hazare’s ‘Jan Lokpal Movement’ which was 12-15 years old. Experts say that in 2011, when Manmohan Singh was in power, teams of ministers were sent to talk to the hunger strikers. But in the politics of 2026, this has become a ‘battle of ego’. Sonam Wangchuk does not consider herself the heir of any movement; He says that he is only discharging his duty as a common citizen.

What next? Preparation for Parliament March

Even though Rahul Gandhi may not have come on the stage, Mahua Moitra, Uddhav Thackeray, Atishi and leftist leaders have supported this movement. Arvind Kejriwal has also spoken to Wangchuk on phone. The agitators have announced ‘Parliament March’ on July 20, the first day of the upcoming session of Parliament. Shiv Sena (UBT) has promised that they will strongly raise this issue on the floor of Parliament. Now it remains to be seen whether the attitude of the government will change or this movement will further deepen the distrust of the youth.