Sonam Wangchuk ends fast after Centre's assurance

New Delhi, Jul 24: Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday ended his indefinite hunger strike, after the Centre assured him that peaceful protesting students would not face punitive or retaliatory legal action.

This marks a breakthrough in the nearly four-week standoff over the student-led agitation against NEET exam leaks,

Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh were present at Medanta Hospital as Wangchuk broke his fast.


Nadda offered Wangchuk the first sip of juice, formally bringing the fast to an end. The two ministers had met the activist for the second time in less than 48 hours, capping the Centre's efforts to persuade him to call off the agitation after prolonged discussions.

The breakthrough came after Wangchuk, in an open letter addressed to Nadda and Jitendra Singh, said he would end his fast if the government gave an unequivocal assurance that students and other participants in the movement would not face punitive or retaliatory legal action for peacefully taking part in the protests. He also urged the Centre to ensure there was no excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators.

Wangchuk began his indefinite hunger strike on June 28 in solidarity with students protesting the alleged examination paper leaks and demanding accountability in the examination system. He initially sat on a fast at Jantar Mantar, where the protest became the focal point of the nationwide movement.

As his health deteriorated, he was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on medical advice before being transferred to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where he continued his fast under medical supervision. It was at Medanta that the Centre intensified its outreach, with Nadda and Jitendra Singh holding two rounds of talks with Wangchuk before the deadlock was resolved.