Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday ended his 26-day hunger strike after the government assured him in writing that the families of students who died by suicide due to NEET paper leaks would be compensated accordingly. The government has assured the 59-year-old that issues of irregularities in the country’s examination system will also be discussed in Parliament during the current monsoon period. Track the July 24 protest at Jantar Mantar live here
In a video recorded from Medanta Hospital after ending his fast, Wangchuk said Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, along with leaders of the Ladakh Apex Authority, met him late at night and conveyed the government’s assurances.
The Center said in a written statement that it is “positive about the non-registration of cases against those who are peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and those who participated in the march to Parliament on July 20.”
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The government also said that it “has already confirmed that there are threadbare discussions to find solutions to paper leaks and educational reforms for examinations in Parliament.” It added that it is “also positively considering appropriate compensation for suicide victims in the recent leaks of NEET papers”.
Why did Sonam Wangchuk break his fast?
“A short while ago, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh came here. Senior leaders of the Ladakh Apex Body were also present,” Wangchuk said in a video posted on X.
He said the meeting came after support from lawmakers from various party affiliations.
“Before that, as you all know, about 65 members of Parliament from different political parties came here and signed a letter asking me to end my hunger strike. They assured me that the issue of NEET paper leak and examination system in the country would be discussed in Parliament. The ministers who came on behalf of the government also gave the same assurances,” he said.
Wangchuk said he insisted on making a written commitment before ending his fast.
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He said: “For the past two days, we have been engaged in very difficult negotiations because I wanted guarantees, and I wanted it in writing. This process took two days, which is why I had to continue my hunger strike for two more days. I was prepared to continue longer if necessary, but they finally gave the assurances today.”
“No action against peaceful demonstrators”
“The statement issued by the government says that the government is positive about not registering cases against those who protested peacefully at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and those who participated in the ‘Chalo Sansad’ rally on July 20,” he added.
The government also confirmed that a detailed discussion would be held in Parliament to find solutions to paper leaks and implement reforms in the examination system. Besides, the government is also positively considering adequate compensation to the families of students who died by suicide in the wake of the recent NEET paper leak.
For our part, I am grateful that the government showed sensitivity towards the children who became victims and towards the young people who were protesting peacefully in those days.”
“The end of hunger”
Announcing the end of his fast on Day X, Wangchuk wrote, “The end of hunger… the beginning of accountability…!” He said that he ended his fast after receiving assurances from the government and representatives of political parties that “the issue of accountability in the failed examination system will be discussed in the Indian Parliament.”
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since July 28. He was demanding accountability for the leakage of NEET papers and reforms to the examination system in the country.
His fast was supported by opposition leaders, student groups and civil society organizations.
