Sonam Wangchuk to end hunger strike if Centre guarantees no action against protesters

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he is prepared to end his 25-day hunger strike over the NEET paper leak issue if the Centre assures that no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against students and protesters who participated in the movement.

In a video message released around 8 pm, Wangchuk said he would break his fast “today itself” if the government provides an unequivocal assurance that those involved in the protests will not face legal action or harassment.

Earlier in the day, Wangchuk wrote to Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, urging the government to ensure that no participant in the agitation is subjected to any retaliatory measures. He said the protesters had only sought a fair, transparent and accountable education system while demanding justice for students affected by the NEET paper leak.

The activist also thanked the ministers for meeting him in hospital and said they had assured him that the government would positively consider key demands, including compensation for families of students who died by suicide after the examination controversy and a discussion in Parliament on accountability, including consideration of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

Referring to the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, Wangchuk maintained that the protest remained peaceful despite what he described as disproportionate police action. He appealed to the government to uphold democratic values and refrain from filing cases or taking vindictive action against demonstrators.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court sought responses from the Centre and the Delhi Police on petitions alleging excessive use of force during the protest and fixed the matter for hearing on September 11.

During the hearing, petitioners sought an SIT probe into the alleged police crackdown, claiming peaceful protesters were lathi-charged without warning and alleging that a senior police officer assaulted a woman spectator.

The Delhi Police opposed the petitions, arguing that the protest turned violent, with police personnel injured and videos showing members of the crowd pelting stones. It maintained that force was used only after the gathering became unruly.

On July 20, thousands of protesters led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) assembled at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, demanding accountability for the NEET paper leak and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament during the Monsoon Session, police dispersed the crowd using lathi-charge and tear gas amid heavy security deployment.