Gurugram: Activist Sonam Wangchuk broke his indefinite hunger strike late on Thursday at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where he had been admitted amid deteriorating health.
The decision followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to stringent action against examination paper leaks and written assurances conveyed by Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh during their visit to the hospital.
“Just now in the presence of Union Ministers Sh. JP Nadda, Dr. Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days. Earlier 65 members of parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break the fast. This was done after long negotiations on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country. I will explain the conditions in detail in a separate video very soon. Meanwhile I urge you all to stay very vigillant about not allowing violence of any kind anywhere,” the activist posted on X.
Wangchuk, who joined the youth-led protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 28 and began fasting the same day, ended his fast in the presence of the two ministers, his wife Gitanjali Angmo, and supporters, including Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, co-convenor of the Leh Apex Body.
According to Lakruk, the government provided written commitments that cases against non-violent student protesters would be withdrawn and that authorities would consider compensation for families of students affected by the crisis, including suicide victims.
The development came shortly after PM Modi shared a video message emphasising that preventing paper leaks is a “national responsibility” and a “grave sin.” He announced that the Union Cabinet would discuss tougher measures, including fast-track courts and stricter punishments, at its meeting on Friday, with plans to introduce a related Bill in Parliament the following week. “Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared,” Modi stated, signalling a proactive government response to longstanding demands from the protesters.
More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet! pic.twitter.com/NRysBukk5U
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2026
Later in another post on X, he wrote: “I urge Sonam ji to follow his routine as per the doctors’ advice and regain his old weight as soon as possible. I pray to the Lord that Sonam ji remains healthy.”
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation, which began on June 20, has centered on demands for accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive exams such as NEET-UG 2026, systemic education reforms, and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Wangchuk quickly emerged as a prominent face of the movement, amplifying calls for justice for affected students. The ministers’ intervention and PM Modi’s announcements appear to have addressed key concerns, paving the way for de-escalation while the broader movement continues to press for lasting reforms in India’s examination system.
