Ladakh-based education reformer and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on the night of July 23, 2026, after Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh met him at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram and conveyed the government’s assurances on key demands raised during the students’ protest.

Wangchuk, 59, had been fasting since June 28 at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi in solidarity with the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance examination that forced millions of students to retake the test.

Background of the Protest

The CJP-led agitation intensified after several students died by suicide following the alleged NEET paper leak, triggering nationwide outrage. Wangchuk joined the movement at Jantar Mantar on June 28, appealing for the protest to remain peaceful even as tensions escalated. His health deteriorated sharply over the following weeks, and he lost close to 11 kilograms during the fast.On July 18, Delhi Police shifted Wangchuk from the protest site to Safdarjung Hospital for medical attention. The Delhi High Court subsequently facilitated his transfer to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where he continued his fast under medical supervision. The situation grew tenser after a police crackdown on the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organised by the CJP.

Government’s Assurances

In a video message posted on X before the fast ended, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government would bring a tougher law to curb examination paper leaks and confirmed that fast-track court proceedings against those involved would be discussed by the Union Cabinet.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, reading out the government’s assurances to Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital, said the authorities would not register cases against those who protested peacefully at Jantar Mantar and during the July 20 march to Parliament. He added that the government had already committed to holding discussions in Parliament on paper leaks and education reforms.

Nadda further said the government was positively considering suitable compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the recent NEET paper leak. Wangchuk said 65 Members of Parliament across party lines had either visited him or signed letters urging him to end the fast.

The Cockroach Janta Party said in a statement on Friday that it was “relieved and grateful” that Wangchuk had ended his fast, but confirmed that its peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar would continue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.

Besides seeking Pradhan’s resignation, the CJP has demanded accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system, compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of students who died by suicide following the alleged NEET paper leak, and withdrawal of all First Information Reports and legal action against peaceful protesters who took part in the movement.

Significance of the Protest Movement

The episode marks one of the most prolonged civil-society interventions in Indian education policy in recent years. Wangchuk, known internationally for his work on sustainable technology in Ladakh and for inspiring the character in the film “3 Idiots,” had earlier undertaken hunger strikes over demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards for Ladakh.

His decision to join the CJP’s protest brought national attention to concerns over examination integrity, particularly after repeated instances of alleged paper leaks in competitive examinations disrupted the academic calendar for millions of students across India.

Prime Minister Modi’s announcement of fast-track courts is expected to be formalised through a notification specifying that the courts will try offences under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, along with related cases. The Union Cabinet is scheduled to discuss the broader legislative response in the coming days.

The government has not yet issued a written notification detailing all the specific assurances conveyed to Wangchuk verbally at Medanta Hospital. The Press of Asia will provide updates as further official confirmations become available.