Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on the night of July 23-24 [1], following government assurances regarding protesters in Delhi.
The resolution of the strike marks a pivotal moment in the campaign for accountability over alleged NEET examination paper leaks. The protest, led by members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and systemic reform of national testing.
Wangchuk broke his fast at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram [2]. He was joined by Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh during the conclusion of the strike. The government agreed that no legal action would be taken against those who protested at Jantar Mantar [3].
"It is the end of hunger – it is the beginning of accountability," Wangchuk said [4].
The hunger strike began on June 28 [5] as a pressure tactic to force government intervention. During the period, 65 members of Parliament visited Wangchuk or signed letters urging him to end the fast [6].
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the crisis in a midnight video message, promising a legislative response to the leaks. "We will introduce a bill for stringent action against paper leaks in Parliament," Modi said [7].
Following the breaking of the fast, talks between government officials and CJP representatives were scheduled for the Constitution Club in Delhi [8]. While some reports indicated the CJP had rejected previous offers for talks, other sources noted that representatives were likely to meet officials to discuss their demands [9, 10].
“"It is the end of hunger – it is the beginning of accountability."”
The conclusion of the hunger strike signals a tactical shift from public protest to legislative negotiation. By promising a new bill and granting immunity to protesters, the government has neutralized the immediate physical crisis of Wangchuk's health while attempting to address the broader public anger over examination integrity. The outcome of the scheduled talks at the Constitution Club will determine if the CJP's demand for ministerial resignations remains a central point of contention.
