Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike late on Thursday night at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh. According to Business Today's report, the 59-year-old had lost more than 11 kilograms over the course of the fast, and broke it with his wife Gitanjali Angmo by his side after the ministers offered him his first sip from a cup.

Why Wangchuk Was on Hunger Strike

Wangchuk began his indefinite fast on June 28 after joining the youth-led protest movement at Jantar Mantar organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, which has been demanding accountability over the NEET UG paper leak controversy and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As his health deteriorated during the strike, he was hospitalised at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, but he declined to end his fast there. His wife subsequently moved the Delhi High Court alleging inadequate medical care, and the court permitted his transfer to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

What Wangchuk Said

Breaking his fast, Wangchuk said, "I'm grateful and happy to break my fast. Thank you," before turning to thank his wife for standing by him throughout. In a post on X shortly after, he confirmed the development and said the decision followed extended negotiations on various conditions, which he promised to detail in a video soon, and was also driven by concerns over possible violence. He noted that 65 Members of Parliament across different political parties had either visited him or urged him to end the fast, and appealed to supporters to stay peaceful regardless of provocation.

Government's Response and Parallel Announcements

The meeting between Wangchuk and the two Union Ministers came after discussions involving Union Home Minister Amit Shah, according to Business Today. Hours earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a video address on X announcing that the government would work toward a tougher law and fast-track courts to punish those responsible for examination paper leaks, with the matter due for Cabinet discussion on Friday. Separately, Al Jazeera reported that the Delhi High Court designated Judge Anu Grover Baliga as Special Judge to handle criminal cases arising from the paper leak investigation. PM Modi also posted separately wishing Wangchuk a full and speedy recovery.

Education Ministry Reshuffle Announced Alongside

The end of the fast coincided with a reshuffle within the Education Ministry's bureaucratic leadership. Naresh Kumar Gangwar was appointed Higher Education Secretary, while T K Anil Kumar was named Secretary of the Department of School Education and Literacy. Former Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi, who had also been holding additional charge of school education and serving as acting UGC chairperson, was moved to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

Protest Movement Continues Despite Fast Ending

Reacting to the development, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke said on X that he was "relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike," while making clear the broader agitation would continue. As India TV News reported, thousands of CJP-aligned protesters continue to rally at Jantar Mantar and in cities across the country, and the organisation has not called off its core demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation despite Wangchuk's fast ending.

A Familiar Pattern for Wangchuk

This is not Wangchuk's first extended hunger strike. The engineer-turned-activist, whose life partly inspired the character Phunsukh Wangdu in the 2009 film 3 Idiots, has previously undertaken multiple fasts in Leh and Delhi over Ladakh's demand for statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, including a 21-day fast in March 2024 and a 35-day fast later that year. This latest strike marked his first major public intervention centred specifically on national examination reform rather than Ladakh-specific demands.

Key Highlights

  • Sonam Wangchuk, 59, ended his 26-day hunger strike late Thursday night at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh
  • He began the fast on June 28 in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party's demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over the NEET paper leak row
  • Wangchuk lost more than 11 kilograms during the strike and was earlier shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta on Delhi High Court orders
  • PM Modi announced plans for fast-track courts and tougher punishment for paper leak offences shortly before Wangchuk broke his fast
  • The Education Ministry saw a bureaucratic reshuffle, with Naresh Kumar Gangwar named Higher Education Secretary and T K Anil Kumar as School Education Secretary
  • Despite the fast ending, the CJP-led protest movement continues, with the organisation maintaining its demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

Conclusion

Wangchuk's decision to end his fast eases the most acute humanitarian concern around the 26-day standoff, but it does not resolve the underlying dispute driving the protest movement he joined. With the CJP continuing its demonstrations and the government simultaneously announcing legal and administrative measures on paper leaks, the coming days in Parliament and at Jantar Mantar are likely to determine whether this marks a genuine de-escalation or simply a pause in a wider confrontation over examination accountability.