'Beginning of accountability': Wangchuk says extended fast by 2 days as negotiations were on

“Beginning of accountability” was the term used by Sonam Wangchuk to end his 26-day hunger strike on Friday. He said that he decided to call of the fast after the government and MPs across parties has assured him on his principal demands for examination reforms and protection of the peaceful protesters.

The educator-activist added that he extended his fast by two days because the negotiations with the Centre were ongoing.

Wangchuk posted on X titled, “End of hunger... Beginning of accountability,” along which he shared a video explaining his decision to end the fast which began on June 28 at Jantar Mantar in support of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) protest whose prominent demands include accountability for paper leaks, the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, and reforms in the examination system.


Read more: Sonam Wangchuk ends fast after Centre's assurance

According to Wangchuk’s post, he ended his fast after 26 days upon receiving assurances from the government and MPs of all political parties that the issue of accountability in the ‘failing’ examination system would be discussed in Parliament.

The post also talked about the government’s assurance that the families of those students who took their lives after the NEET-UG paper leak in May would be adequately compensated, and no cases would be registered against the students and youth protesting peacefully.

The activist also said in the video that he extended his hunger strike by two days because negotiations with the Centre were underway.

“Negotiations were on for these assurances since the last two days, for which I had to extend my hunger strike. I could have extended it further if required,” he said.

The post also shared the text of the assurance letter that Health Minister J P Nadda read out at the hospital before Wangchuk broke his fast.

Read more: Sonam Wangchuk ends fast: What happens next to CJP protest, negotiations with govt and steps to resolve NEET paper leak crisis

“The government is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and those who participated in the march to Parliament on July 20,” the letter said.

It also said that the government had “already assured threadbare discussions to find solutions to paper leaks and educational reforms for exams in Parliament.” Adding that “positively considering suitable compensation for the suicide victims of recent NEET paper leaks”.

The activist ended his hunger strike late on Thursday night in the presence of his wife Gitanjali Angmo, JP Nadda and Union minister Jitendra Singh at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.