New Delhi, India – In a significant development that could mark a turning point in the weeks-long protest at Jantar Mantar, activist Sonam Wangchuk has offered the government a potential exit from the escalating crisis. On Wednesday, July 22, the 25th day of his indefinite hunger strike, Wangchuk issued a statement outlining three conditions to end his fast, notably toning down the central demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. This shift follows a meeting with Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Medanta hospital in Gurgaon.
The protest, initiated by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on June 6 over the NEET-UG question paper leak, gained significant momentum after Wangchuk began his hunger strike on June 28. His fast drew thousands to the site, shifting the movement’s center of gravity from CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke to Wangchuk. The government, facing mounting pressure and violent clashes on July 20 when protesters marched to Parliament, has been seeking a resolution. Wangchuk’s new conditions include: adequate compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the leak, a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability (including consideration of the Education Minister’s resignation), and an assurance that no legal action will be taken against the protesting youths.
“I want to live. I want to return to my students, to education, 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,” Wangchuk stated. His change of heart came after the ministers’ appeal and his desire to live. While Wangchuk’s toned-down demands offer the government an off-ramp, the political landscape remains complex. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has raised the stakes by adding a demand for an apology from the Prime Minister. Meanwhile, opposition MPs were denied a meeting with Wangchuk at the hospital, leading to a dharna outside.
The government, which has seen protests intensify and Metro services disrupted, will now try to ensure the Jantar Mantar protest doesn’t get hijacked and steer the debate over paper leaks to Parliament. As Wangchuk prepares to end his fast, having lost 11 kg, the focus shifts to whether the government will formally accept his conditions and whether the protest movement will disperse. The situation remains fluid, but Wangchuk’s move has undeniably provided a potential path to de-escalation.
