Union Health Minister JP Nadda met with social activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital on Tuesday evening to urge him to end his hunger strike [1, 2].
The meeting represents a government attempt to resolve a high-profile protest concerning the NEET-UG paper leak, which has drawn significant national attention and student unrest.
Nadda visited the hospital in Gurgaon, near Delhi, where he inquired about Wangchuk's health and signaled the government's readiness for dialogue [1, 2]. The minister said the activist should stop the fast to facilitate a resolution to the grievances surrounding the examination process [1].
Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for nine days [3]. His protest is centered on the integrity of the NEET-UG examinations and the demand for systemic reforms to prevent future leaks.
Despite the visit from the health minister, Wangchuk has not agreed to stop the protest. "I will continue my fast until youth protesters are allowed to meet MPs in Parliament or MPs visit me in hospital," Wangchuk said [2].
Medical reports indicate the physical toll of the protest. One report noted that Wangchuk's potassium level in the blood was 3.2 [4]. This decline in electrolytes is a common complication of prolonged fasting.
While the government has expressed a willingness to talk, the activist said his conditions for ending the strike have not yet been met [1, 2].
“I will continue my fast until youth protesters are allowed to meet MPs in Parliament or MPs visit me in hospital.”
The standoff between the Indian government and Sonam Wangchuk highlights the tension between administrative efforts to maintain order and the demands of student activists for transparency in national examinations. By sending the Health Minister, the government is attempting to frame the issue as a matter of humanitarian concern and health safety, while Wangchuk is leveraging his physical condition to force a direct political meeting between youth protesters and lawmakers.
