Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, pleaded with people on Thursday not to rush to judge him as he ended his 26-day hunger strike, saying he had paid a heavy physical price for a cause bigger than himself and deserved sympathy rather than criticism.
The appeal came hours after the Union government expressed hope that Wangchuk’s decision would pave the way for an end to the ongoing protests over the paper leaks.
In a post on X, Angmo said: “Before you rush to criticize @Wangchuk66, first stop and get into the spirit of fasting for 26 days for a cause bigger than yourself.”
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She added: “He is lying in the intensive care unit today, having lost 11 kilograms, including muscle mass, because he chose sacrifice over comfort. The least we can offer him is a day of mercy before we burden him with our expectations and political calculations.”
Appealing for sympathy, Angmo added, “Not everyone is qualified to judge a life of selfless service. One must first gain the moral standing to do so. Please… have a heart.”
Wangchuk broke his fast shortly after midnight on Thursday in the presence of Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. CJP convener Abhijit Deepki, who is leading the protest that the activist was supporting, praised the decision but added that their protest demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will continue.
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At least two senior BJP leaders and lawmakers said Wangchuk’s call for dialogue was a welcome step. One leader said: “He has already shown the way, and they should listen to him and have a dialogue…”
In his statement posted on X, Wangchuk said his decision to end his indefinite fast was made in light of “potential acts of violence in the country.” He also said that the decision came after written assurance from the government and 65 opposition MPs that the issue of accountability in the failed examination system would be discussed in Parliament.
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Regarding how the government convinced Wangchuk to back down and break the fast, a third government employee familiar with the details said that his wife, Gitanjali Angmu, played an active role. “She was the mediator between the government and Wangchuk. She was very upset that he went back on his word, so she convinced him to cancel the fast. She was in favor of ending the protest by joining the dialogue, and she also did not want him to set any additional conditions,” the employee said.
While the opposition is also pushing for Pradhan’s resignation, Angmo criticized Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for sitting in protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence. She accused the opposition of trying to exploit the credibility of her husband and the movement.
