Centre Assures No Action Against Peaceful Protesters as Sonam Wangchuk Ends Hunger Strike
Social activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26-day indefinite hunger strike after the Union Government provided a series of written assurances addressing the concerns raised by students and youth protesting alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The breakthrough came following late-night discussions with Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where Wangchuk had been undergoing treatment after his health deteriorated during the fast.
The most significant assurance given by the Centre was that no criminal cases would be registered against peaceful protesters, including those who participated in demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and the July 20 “Chalo Parliament” march in New Delhi. The government also indicated that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated peacefully in the movement, a key demand consistently raised by Wangchuk before agreeing to end his fast.
According to the written communication shared by Wangchuk, the government also committed to initiating discussions in Parliament on concerns surrounding examination irregularities, including the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The assurance signals the Centre’s willingness to address demands for greater transparency, accountability, and systemic reforms in India’s examination process through legislative and administrative channels.
Another important commitment relates to broader education reforms. The Centre assured that issues concerning examination integrity, stricter action against paper leaks, and reforms aimed at restoring confidence in competitive examinations would receive serious consideration. The government also agreed to positively examine demands regarding compensation and relief measures for students allegedly affected by examination irregularities.
Wangchuk announced the end of his fast through a video message, stating that the written assurances had fulfilled the conditions he had laid down for suspending the protest. He thanked the thousands of students, civil society groups, Members of Parliament, and citizens who supported the movement while emphasizing that the struggle for education reforms would continue through democratic dialogue rather than prolonged confrontation.
The development came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated the government’s resolve to tackle paper leaks, describing them as a serious issue affecting millions of students and promising stronger legal action against those responsible. The Prime Minister’s message, coupled with direct ministerial engagement and written assurances, played a crucial role in ending the hunger strike and opening a fresh channel for negotiations between the government and protest representatives.
While Wangchuk has ended his fast, leaders associated with the movement have clarified that public pressure for comprehensive education reforms will continue until the government’s assurances are translated into concrete policy measures. The coming weeks are expected to witness further consultations as the Centre works to address the demands that sparked one of the country’s most prominent student-backed protest movements in recent years.
