Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike in presence of Union Ministers Nadda, Jitendra Singh

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk early on Friday ended his 26-day hunger strike after meeting Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, marking a significant development in the ongoing student-led agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities.

Wangchuk ended his fast in the presence of the two Union ministers.

Earlier in the day, Wangchuk reiterated his appeal for peaceful protests, saying the movement must remain non-violent despite reports of attempts to provoke unrest elsewhere. "Peace and only peace is my way," he said in a post on X, urging demonstrators to respond to any provocation "only with flowers."


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The development comes two days after Wangchuk wrote to Nadda and Singh following their visit to him in hospital on July 22. In the letter, Wangchuk thanked the ministers for the meeting and said they had assured him that the government would positively consider adequate compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the alleged examination paper leak, as well as a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability, including consideration of the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

In the same letter, Wangchuk had sought an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against young protesters participating in the movement, saying he would end his fast if such an assurance was given. He also urged the government to refrain from any further excessive use of police force against demonstrators.

The hunger strike had become a focal point of the nationwide agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demanding the resignation of Pradhan, accountability for alleged paper leaks and wider reforms to the examination system after the alleged NEET paper leak and the reported suicides of more than 20 students.

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The protests intensified after thousands of students marched towards Parliament earlier this week, leading to clashes with Delhi Police, which used tear gas and lathicharge before detaining several demonstrators. The crackdown also sparked solidarity protests by the Indian diaspora in cities including London, New York, Berlin, Dublin, Edinburgh, Vancouver and Toronto.

In his July 22 letter, Wangchuk described the July 20 "Chalo Sansad" march as peaceful despite what he termed disproportionate police action and said around 65 Members of Parliament from across political parties had written to the government seeking to meet him.