Indian activist and climate advocate Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day [1] hunger strike in New Delhi on July 14, 2026 [2].
The protest centered on a series of examination paper leaks and the demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement highlights growing public frustration with the integrity of India's national testing systems, and the perceived lack of accountability within the ministry.
Wangchuk conducted the fast at Jantar Mantar, a historic site for protests in the capital [2]. He said he broke the fast after long negotiations with officials and in view of possible violence in the country.
While the fast has concluded, the campaign for the minister's removal remains active. The effort is supported by the Cockroach movement, which continues to mobilize against the current educational leadership.
"We will keep the pressure on until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan steps down," a spokesperson for the Cockroach movement said [3].
The strike lasted 26 days [1], drawing significant attention to the exam-paper-leak scandal. Wangchuk's decision to end the fast followed a period of intense dialogue with government representatives, a move he indicated was necessary to prevent further instability.
Despite the conclusion of the hunger strike, the underlying demands regarding educational reform, and ministerial accountability have not been met by the government.
“I have broken my fast after long negotiations with officials and in view of possible violence in the country.”
The conclusion of Wangchuk's hunger strike represents a tactical shift from personal sacrifice to sustained political pressure. By breaking the fast to avoid violence, Wangchuk maintains his moral authority while the Cockroach movement seeks to transition the protest into a broader systemic challenge against the Ministry of Education. The persistence of the demand for Minister Pradhan's resignation suggests that the government's negotiations provided a temporary truce rather than a definitive resolution to the exam leak scandal.
