Sonam Wangchuk ends 26-day fast after govt assurance, PM Modi wishes for good health

Educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day indefinite hunger strike shortly after midnight on July 24 at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. The decision came after extended negotiations resulted in written assurances from the Union Government addressing key demands regarding competitive examination reforms. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh met Wangchuk in the presence of his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, and senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh-Ladakh, offering him his first sip of juice to formally break the fast.

Reading out the official communication from the government, Wangchuk confirmed that the Centre gave a written commitment stating that Parliament will hold threadbare discussions on examination accountability, systemic reforms, and the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. Furthermore, the government agreed not to register cases against peaceful demonstrators who participated in recent agitations, including the July 20 'Chalo Parliament' march, and confirmed it is positively considering compensation for the families of students who died by suicide in the wake of exam irregularities.

Following the conclusion of the fast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed relief on social media platform X, wishing Wangchuk good health and encouraging him to resume his daily routine under medical supervision. Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) welcomed Wangchuk’s decision to end his hunger strike while reaffirming that its peaceful sit-in at Jantar Mantar will persist until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan tenders his resignation.