Extended fast by 2 days as negotiations were on: Wangchuk

Sonam Wangchuk on Friday termed the end of his 26-day hunger strike the “beginning of accountability”, saying he decided to call off the fast only after receiving assurances from the Government and MPs across parties on his key demands for examination reforms and protection of the peaceful protesters.

The educator-activist also said that he extended his fast by two days because negotiations with the Centre were continuing.

“End of hunger... Beginning of accountability,” Wangchuk posted on X, where he shared a video explaining his decision to end the fast, which he began at the Jantar Mantar on June 28 in support of the Cokroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ongoing protest demanding accountability for paper leaks, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, and reforms in the examination system, among others.

According to the post, Wangchuk ended his fast after 26 days upon getting assurance from the Government and MPs of all political parties that the issue of accountability in the ‘failing’ examination system would be discussed in Parliament.

The Government also assured that the families of those students who took their lives after the NEET-UG paper leak in May would be adequately compensated, and no cases would be registered against the students and youth protesting peacefully.

In the video, Wangchuk also disclosed that he extended his hunger strike by two days because negotiations with the Centre were continuing.

“Negotiations were on for these assurances since the last two days, for which I had to extend my hunger strike. I could have extended it further if required,” he said.

Wanghchuk also shared the text of the assurance letter that Health Minister J P Nadda read out at the hospital before he broke his fast.

“The Government is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and those who participated in the march to Parliament on July 20,” the letter said.

It also said that the Government had “already assured threadbare discussions to find solutions to paper leaks and educational reforms for exams in Parliament”, and was “positively considering suitable compensation for the suicide victims of recent NEET paper leaks”.

Wangchuk ended his hunger strike late on Thursday night in the presence of his wife Gitanjali Angmo, Nadda and Union minister Jitendra Singh at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan non-negotiable: CJP to union ministers

New Delhi: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday told the Government that its demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is non-negotiable and asked for a public apology to the protesting students who were “brutally thrashed” on July 20.

In a meeting with Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, the CJP also demanded Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of those who committed suicide after the cancellation of the NEET test on May 3, its spokesperson Saurav Das said.

The two-hour meeting held at the Vithalbhai Patel House was aimed at finding an amicable solution to protests over the NEET paper leak and other irregularities in the exam system.

Nadda said the ministers heard their demands and conveyed that they will get back to the CJP. “We will again meet on Saturday,” he said.

“We told Union ministers that our demand for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan is non-negotiable,” Das told reporters after the meeting.

The CJP, which has been spearheading the protests that started at Jantar Mantar on June 20, was also represented by its spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka.

Besides the demand for Rs 1 crore compensation for families of suicide victims, Das said the CJP is also asking that FIRs against protesters should be withdrawn.

In a letter to the Government, the CJP spelt out its stand. It acknowledged the “Government’s eagerness to find a mutually beneficial solution” and said, “Over the last few days, we have held extensive consultations with supporters and members across the country and protesters at Jantar Mantar. We have arrived at a clear consensus that our demands, namely the resignation of Mr Dharmendra Pradhan, Rs 1 crore compensation for NEET victims, and no legal action against protestors, are non-negotiable.”

“Furthermore, the Government of India, the head of the Rapid Action Force, and the Delhi Police Commissioner ought to publicly apologise to the students who were brutally thrashed by their forces,” it said

The organisation also requested that the demands be accepted at the earliest. If not, the movement would only grow bigger and spread across the country, it said.

“Further, we would appreciate the Government’s response to our five-point demand charter on examination reforms. The charter will prove critical in bringing about the larger structural reforms needed in the education system,” the letter stated.

This was the third official meeting between the CJP and the Government.

Nadda held two back-to-back meetings with Das and Ranka on July 20 at the minister’s residence. That was the day thousands of protesters responded to the call ‘Sansad Chalo’ and began marching towards Parliament only to be pushed back by police batons and tear gas. Scores of people were injured.

Friday’s meeting took place hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike late on Thursday night following Government assurances on his key demands.

The CJP had earlier declined the Government’s invitation to hold talks at a minister’s residence or office, insisting that discussions should take place at a neutral venue.

The outfit has maintained that its protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Pradhan resigns.

In a video message around midnight on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that a bill containing provisions for strong action against paper leaks will be introduced in Parliament next week.

Hours later, the Union Cabinet on Friday approved a draft bill to ensure stricter punishments for paper leaks.