Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk said he will end his hunger strike if the government stops using force against student protesters in Delhi [1].

The offer comes as the Indian government faces mounting pressure to address systemic failures in the national education system. The unrest centers on botched nationwide exams that affected millions of students [4], sparking widespread demonstrations and subsequent police crackdowns.

Wangchuk has spent nearly three weeks without food [3]. While some reports place the duration of his fast at 18 days [2], other sources indicate he has been on a hunger strike for 20 days [1]. His health has become a point of concern, with reports indicating he was forcibly taken to a hospital following a protest march to parliament on July 20 [1].

To terminate the fast, Wangchuk outlined specific requirements for the state. "I will end my fast if the government stops using force on student protesters and assures no punitive actions against them," Wangchuk said [1].

In a separate statement, Wangchuk expanded these terms to include a broader demand for systemic change. "I have set three conditions to call off my hunger strike: accountability for the education system, an end to police force against students, and no punitive actions," he said [2].

The activist has specifically called for the resignation of the education minister [4]. This demand stems from the instability caused by the exam failures, which Wangchuk argues requires high-level accountability rather than police intervention.

The situation in Delhi remains tense as youth protesters continue to demand the resignation of officials. Wangchuk's hunger strike has served as a focal point for these grievances, linking the physical toll of his fast to the academic and legal struggles of the students [1].

“"I will end my fast if the government stops using force on student protesters and assures no punitive actions against them,"”

Wangchuk's ultimatum shifts the focus from the personal health risk of his hunger strike to the legal and physical safety of student activists. By linking the end of his fast to a guarantee of non-punitive action, he is attempting to secure a formal amnesty for protesters while forcing the government to acknowledge administrative failures in the national examination process.