Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26-day hunger strike after negotiations with authorities, but nationwide protests demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination paper leaks.
The 59-year-old announced the decision in a post on X saying he called off the fast after “a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country.”
Wangchuk said he would explain the details of the negotiations in a separate video.
The activist began the hunger strike last month in solidarity with the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demanding Pradhan’s resignation following a series of examination paper leaks, including medical college entrance tests that forced millions of students to retake their exams.
His announcement came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a video message promising tougher action against examination paper leaks.
“The government is working on measures to fast-track court proceedings against those involved in the leaks,” Modi said, describing the scandal as “a matter of great pain” for hundreds of thousands of students. However, he did not address calls for Pradhan’s resignation.
Despite Wangchuk ending his fast, protests have continued at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and in several cities across India, becoming one of the biggest public challenges to Modi’s government since his third consecutive election victory.
The demonstrations have turned violent in recent days. Police used tear gas and batons on Monday to disperse protesters attempting to march towards parliament.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have criticised Indian authorities over what they described as the “excessive use of force” by police and the suspension of mobile internet services around the protest site.
Reacting to Wangchuk’s decision, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke welcomed the move but vowed that demonstrations would continue.
“Thank you, sir, for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice. By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation,” Dipke wrote on X.
He added: “The Cockroach Janta Party’s peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.”
