On Friday night, activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike in New Delhi after securing a written assurance from the Centre that no legal action would be taken against peaceful protesters. Wangchuk had been protesting against the government, and his fast sparked widespread concern. In a YouTube video, he explained that he agreed to end his indefinite fast only after the Centre provided a written guarantee, citing fears of an imminent crackdown on protesters in Delhi. He recalled the 2025 firing on youths in Ladakh and wanted to prevent any violence against students.
Wangchuk rejected allegations of striking a deal with the Centre, stating that his priority was to prevent legal actions against protesters. He did not demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during negotiations, focusing instead on securing the written assurance. Wangchuk also responded to criticism over ending his fast in the presence of Union ministers, saying that those questioning his decision were unaware of the circumstances he faced after being shifted from the protest site.
According to Wangchuk, Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him at Medanta Hospital and agreed to consider compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the alleged NEET paper leak. They also agreed to hold a discussion in Parliament on accountability and reforms in the examination system. However, Wangchuk insisted on a written assurance that no cases would be filed against protesting students, which the ministers initially resisted.
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📰 Source: Sahil Online