Will end hunger strike if govt assures no action against students: Sonam Wangchuk

Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday said he would end his indefinite hunger strike if the Centre gives an assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against students and youth who participated in protests over alleged examination irregularities.

In a letter addressed to Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk said the two ministers had assured him that the government would positively consider his other key demands, including compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the alleged NEET paper leak and a meaningful discussion in Parliament on accountability for exam irregularities.

He also sought an assurance that protesters would not face legal action for participating in the movement.

“Therefore, I respectfully request an unequivocal assurance from the government that none of the young protesters will face any punitive or retaliatory legal action for participating in this movement. Their only 'offence' has been to raise their voice for a fair and accountable education system,” Wangchuk wrote on X.

“If such an assurance is given, I shall end my fast with faith that the government has heard not only my appeal but also the aspirations of lakhs of young Indians. In the absence of such an assurance, I will be forced to continue my fast indefinitely,” he added.

Sharing the letter on X, Wangchuk said once the assurance comes, he would also appeal to protesting students to halt the movement and enter into dialogue with the government.

Referring to the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march, Wangchuk claimed the protest remained peaceful despite what he described as "atrocities and disproportionate use of force by the police".

He said the nation and the world witnessed the patience and commitment of the protesters, and hoped their faith in democratic institutions would not be weakened by legal cases, harassment or retaliatory action.

Wangchuk mentioned around 65 MPs from different political parties had written to him, while several others personally met him and urged him to end his fast.

“I want to live. I want to return to my students, to education, and to the work that has defined my life. But I cannot do so at the cost of the very young people for whom this movement began,” he said.

Earlier today, a delegation of opposition MPs, including Congress' Vivek Tankha, CPI(M)'s John Brittas and TMC's Sagarika Ghose, met Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital and appealed to him to end his fast.

Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining the Cockroach Janta Party-led agitation demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, education reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He was shifted to Medanta Hospital from Safdarjung Hospital following a Delhi High Court order.