CJP protest: Who are the 3 students, who have called off their indefinite hunger strike?

Three students of the All India Students' Association (AISA), Neha Bora, Manish Kumar, and Aameen Amitoj, concluded their 23-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, AISA announced on Monday (July 20). They are demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation following paper leaks of medical entrance exams.

All three hunger strikers have ended their indefinite fast following an appeal by a delegation headed by parliamentarians Manoj Jha, Rajaram Singh and Amra Ram, along with Dr Yogendra Yadav, advocate Prashant Bhushan, Professor Atul Sood, and Bollywood actors Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi.

"This is not the breaking of the hunger strike, but a conclusion of this form of struggle," Dr Yogendra Yadav said. Manoj Jha added: "What you have achieved is massive, as this government stands exposed on all fronts." Lauding GenZ, actor Shabana Azmi stated: "We have failed as a generation to do good to our GenZ, but you people have shown us the way forward," as quoted by HT.

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Meanwhile, in a latest development, protesters participating in the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Chalo Sansad" march have clashed with cops and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel near Jantar Mantar today (July 20). Reports suggest that despite prohibitory orders being in place, protesters attempted to march towards Parliament. Police used lathis to disperse them.

We take a look.

3 students end their indefinite fast: Who are they?

Neha Bora

Neha is a 29-year-old PhD scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). She is also the AISA's national president. Neha hails from Uttarakhand. She earned her bachelor's degree from Delhi University and her master's from Ambedkar University.

According to reports, Neha is currently pursuing a PhD from JNU in the School of Arts and Aesthetics. The hunger striker has been an activist and theatre artist.

Manish Kumar

He is AISA's Uttar Pradesh president. Manish, in his 20s, is a PhD scholar at Allahabad University. Manish reportedly came under the university's scanner for his activism in Uttar Pradesh previously.

Manish is from Azamgarh in UP and has cases registered against him for involvement in activism, mainly in connection with the fee-hike movement at Allahabad University.

Aameen Amitoj

Aameen is an AISA vice president at Delhi's Ambedkar University. He is a native of Ludhiana, Punjab. Aameen had also participated in the 2020-21 farmers' protest.

He holds a BA from Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur (SGTB) Khalsa College and is currently pursuing a PhD in Urban Studies at Ambedkar University. 

Did their health condition deteriorate?

According to AISA's claim, the three student leaders had each lost over 12 per cent of their body weight. Their blood sugar level dropped, affecting their organs during the fast.

Neha's starting weight is 66 kg, and she has reportedly lost 7.5 kg since the fast began. On Friday (July 17), AISA said her blood sugar level dropped drastically, resulting in doctors recommending that she end her indefinite fast and seek immediate medical treatment.

Manish's starting weight is 85.7 kg, and he reportedly lost 10.4 kg during the strike. He also developed serious health issues following 20 days of fasting, PTI reported.

Ameen Amitoj's starting weight is 69.3 kg, and he reportedly lost 9.3 kg, according to the organisers. AISA said that his health also deteriorated after days of hunger strike.

CJP's ‘Chalo Sansad' march 

In the latest development, the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) 'Chalo Sansad' march protesters clashed with cops after they tried to march towards Parliament in spite of prohibitory orders in force.

Rapid Action Force and cops are reportedly using lathis to disperse the crowd and intercept the march from proceeding. Delhi police say the CJP did not seek any permission for the proposed march to Parliament.

The proposed march, first announced by educator and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, was named the "Chalo Sansad" march.

Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, laid out the top priorities she wants the protestors to follow throughout the day.

Angmo told news agency ANI: "We will focus on this march. Three points are very important today. First, we will focus on conducting the march peacefully. Let us stay focused on the issue- the issue of education, which is a vital need for this country and remain vigilant."

On Saturday (July 18), Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital, and from there he said that he would end his fast, citing conditions including the centre to hold responsibility for failures in the education system, including paper leaks.

With inputs from agencies