Wangchuk urges CJP supporters to celebrate victory 'with humility' amid viral party row

New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk weighed in on the row over celebration videos of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders that went viral on social media, urging supporters to "celebrate responsibly."

"Victory must be accompanied by humility," Wangchuk said, calling on CJP supporters to celebrate "with dignity, restraint, and responsibility."

His remarks came amid a debate on social media over visuals showing CJP's core members dancing and celebrating hours after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, which followed the party calling off its protest.

Wangchuk had joined the CJP-led students' protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi last month, going on an indefinite hunger strike demanding Pradhan's resignation and exam reforms following the NEET-UG paper leak. He was forcibly shifted by Delhi Police to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18, citing a High Court order expressing concern over his health. He ended his 26-day hunger strike on July 23 after the Centre assured that no action would be taken against student protesters and that families of NEET aspirants would receive adequate compensation.

The celebration videos have triggered criticism online, with some social media users calling the visuals insensitive given that the movement was driven in part by the suicides of students following the NEET-UG paper leak. Others accused the CJP leadership of celebrating while several of its protesters continued to face arrests in various states.

CJP spokesperson Saurva Das defended the celebrations, saying the videos reflected the spirit of the younger generation. "We can sit on the road for as long as it takes. We can protest while dancing. We can organise while sipping cold coffee. That's just how this generation is," Das wrote on X on Monday, adding that the government and some television anchors did not understand the language of Gen Z and younger generations.

Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani criticised the celebrations on X, saying the CJP leadership had thrown a victory party at a hotel days after Delhi witnessed unrest, calling those involved "so-called youth activists".

Das rejected claims that the event was extravagant, saying reports of the venue had been exaggerated and that it was a two or three-star property rather than a five-star hotel. He said the gathering was held in a basement hall to honour around 150 to 200 volunteers, including women who had travelled from various states to spend 37 days on the road during the protests.