Govt promised not to file case against protesters: Wangchuk after ending fast
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, in a video message moments after ending his 26-day hunger strike on Friday, said he had called off the fast after receiving
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, in a video message moments after ending his 26-day hunger strike on Friday, said he had called off the fast after receiving written assurances from the Centre that no cases would be filed against peaceful protesters, including those who participated in the July 20 'Chalo Parliament' march, and that Parliament would take up the issues of accountability in the examination system and the NEET-UG paper leak. Read Full Story Wangchuk said the government had also assured discussions in Parliament on examination reforms and measures to prevent future paper leaks. According to him, the Centre has also conveyed that it is "positively considering suitable compensation" for the families of students who died by suicide in the wake of the recent NEET paper leak controversy.
The activist ended his 26-day fast shortly after midnight at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on July 24 in the presence of Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh-Ladakh. Visuals from the hospital showed the two Union ministers offering him his first sip of juice to break the fast, with his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, by his side. In his first video message after ending the fast, Wangchuk said he had insisted on receiving the government's assurances in writing, leading to two days of intense negotiations that prolonged his hunger strike. "For the last two days, we had been having a very strict kind of bargain.
I needed assurance, and I needed it in writing. It took two days, and that is why I had to continue the hunger strike for two more days. Finally today, they have given assurance in writing," he said. Reading out the government's written communication, Wangchuk said, "The government is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully and those participating in the march to Parliament on July 20, 2026." He said the decision to end his fast also came after around 65 Members of Parliament from different political parties appealed to him to withdraw his protest and assured him that the issues surrounding the NEET paper leak and examination reforms would be discussed in Parliament.
Wangchuk had launched the indefinite hunger strike in support of students protesting against the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and demanding greater accountability in the examination system. The agitation, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), drew nationwide attention, with thousands joining demonstrations and the July 20 'Chalo Parliament' march in New Delhi. Ends
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