Wangchuk Ends 26-Day Hunger Strike, Government Promises Safety for Protesters—But the Main Demands Wait
After nearly a month without food, Sonam Wangchuk broke his fast with written assurances on protester safety and vague pledges on NEET reforms and compensation. The Cockroach Janta Party is pressing on for the education minister’s resignation—and real action.
Written promises, unmet demands.
Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based engineer and education reformer, ended his 26-day hunger strike at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon on Thursday night after the central government issued written assurances on three demands linked to the NEET exam paper leak controversy.
In the presence of Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Minister Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk broke his fast after receiving a letter promising that no criminal cases would be filed against peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar or those who joined the July 20 march to Parliament. The second assurance: Parliament will take up the NEET-UG paper leak, examine accountability in competitive exams, and consider broader reforms. The third: the government is “positively considering” compensation for families of students who died by suicide—though no timeline, amount, or criteria was offered.
These assurances came after a four-hour meeting led by Home Minister Amit Shah amid rising concerns about Wangchuk’s health and growing unrest among students nationwide. But the main demand—a resignation from Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—remains unmet. The Cockroach Janta Party, leading the youth protests, says it’s relieved Wangchuk’s strike is over, but its campaign will continue until the minister steps aside and real accountability arrives.