Sonam Wangchuk Sets Condition to End Fast, Seeks Govt Assurance on Student Protesters and Education Accountability
Sonam Wangchuk Sets Condition to End Fast, Seeks Govt Assurance on Student Protesters and Education Accountability
Sunil Negi, New Delhi
New Delhi: Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has written to Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh, saying he is willing to end his 24-day hunger strike if the government gives an “unequivocal assurance” that no student who participated in the recent protests will face punitive or retaliatory legal action.
In the letter dated 22 July 2026, written from hospital, Wangchuk thanked both ministers for visiting him the previous night and for appealing to him to break his fast. During that meeting, he noted, the ministers had assured him that the government would “positively consider” two key demands. First, adequate compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the NEET paper leak. Second, a meaningful discussion in Parliament to ensure accountability, including consideration of the resignation of the Education Minister.
Wangchuk referred directly to the Chalo Sansad march held on 20 July 2026. He described it as “very peaceful despite the atrocities and disproportionate use of force by the police.” He said the entire nation and the world had witnessed the patience of the young protesters and their commitment to democratic protest. He expressed hope that this faith in democratic institutions would not be further undermined by legal cases, harassment or vindictive action against those who took part. Visuals from that day showed lathicharge and tear gas shells being used near Parliament and Jantar Mantar, with hundreds of students detained and many injured.
The activist also mentioned the political attention his fast has drawn. He wrote that after the ministers’ visit, roughly 65 Members of Parliament from across party lines had written to him or come to meet him. Others were expected later in the evening. All of them, he said, had urged him to end the fast, reminding him that he still had much work to do for the nation. “I agree with them. 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,” Wangchuk wrote.
His central condition was clear. He requested a firm assurance from the government that none of the young protesters would face cases or retaliation for raising their voice for a “fair and accountable education system.” He called their only “offence” the demand for justice after paper leaks and systemic failures. If such an assurance is given, he said, he will end his fast with faith that the government has heard not only his appeal but also the aspirations of lakhs of young Indians. In the absence of that assurance, he warned, he would be forced to continue the fast indefinitely. He also hoped there would be no further use of excessive police force to repress the movement.
The letter comes at a time when Jantar Mantar has once again turned into a protest site, with hundreds of students returning to tents after Sunday’s crackdown. Opposition leaders have also escalated their agitation, with a march towards the PM House and a dharna at Vijay Chowk led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has separately met a student delegation and said the government is taking their concerns seriously.
Wangchuk ended his letter with a larger observation on democracy. He wrote that the future of democracy depends not on how it treats those who agree with it, but on how it treats its young citizens when they dare to speak with courage, hope and conviction.
The letter now places the ball in the government’s court. With Parliament in session, pressure building on the streets, and a respected public figure putting his health on the line, the demand for clarity on compensation, accountability, and protection for protesters is likely to dominate discussions in the coming days.
