India, July 14 -- Activist Sonam Wangchuk has refused to end his 17-day indefinite hunger strike despite losing 8.5 kg and experiencing deteriorating health, insisting that he will continue his fast until the government agrees to hold a dialogue, according to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

In a health bulletin issued on Tuesday, the CJP said Wangchuk's blood pressure was recorded at 109/70 mm Hg. The outfit added that he has begun losing muscle mass and is suffering from severe physical pain as his condition continues to worsen.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said he personally appealed to Wangchuk to end the hunger strike, but the activist firmly declined.

"I requested him to end the fast. He calmly replied, 'Don't ask me to end my fast...