Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike in support of students protesting against irregularities in competitive examinations. He was shifted to Medanta Hospital after spending several days on the fast, with doctors advising close monitoring of his health.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26-day hunger strike after weeks of negotiations with the Centre, doing the same in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh after being assured that the accountability of paper leaks in India will be discussed by all political parties in Parliament.
Visuals from the hospital showed Jitendra Singh helping Wangchuk sit up on his bed while Nadda offered him his first sip from a cup to end the fast. Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, was by his side during the emotional moment.
“I’m grateful and happy to break my fast. Thank you,” Wangchuk said before turning to his wife and adding, “Gitanjali has always been by my side. I don’t want to thank you but express my feelings.”
According to sources, Nadda and Singh met Wangchuk after discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The activist formally ended his fast following the meeting.
Shortly afterwards, Wangchuk confirmed the development in a post on X, saying he had broken his fast after “long negotiations” and because of concerns that the agitation could turn violent.
“Just now, in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh Ladakh, I finally broke my fast after 26 days,” he wrote.
Just now in the presence of Union Ministers Sh. JP Nadda, Dr. Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days. Earlier 65 members of parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break… pic.twitter.com/RFCet7Oksy
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 23, 2026
Wangchuk said 65 Members of Parliament from different political parties had either visited him or appealed to him to end his fast.
“This was done after a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country. I will explain the conditions in detail in a separate video very soon,” he said.
Even as he ended the fast, Wangchuk urged supporters to keep the movement peaceful. “Meanwhile, I urge you all to stay very vigilant about not allowing violence of any kind anywhere,” he said.
Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Wangchuk a speedy recovery and urged him to follow doctors’ advice.
“I urge Sonam ji to follow his routine as per the doctors’ advice and regain his old weight as soon as possible. I pray to the Lord that Sonam ji remains healthy,” the Prime Minister said in a post on X.
मैं सोनम जी से आग्रह करता हूँ की वो डॉक्टरों की सलाह के अनुसार अपनी दिनचर्या रखें और जल्द से जल्द अपना पुराना वज़न फिर से प्राप्त करें।
मैं प्रभु से प्रार्थना करता हूँ कि सोनम जी स्वस्थ रहें।@Wangchuk66 @GitanjaliAngmo
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2026
Wangchuk began his indefinite hunger strike on June 28 after joining the student-led agitation at Jantar Mantar over the alleged NEET paper leak. The movement, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has been demanding sweeping education reforms, accountability over examination irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Last week, Wangchuk was removed from the protest site and admitted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. He refused to end his fast there, following which his wife approached the Delhi High Court, alleging inadequate medical care. The court later permitted his transfer to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. Doctors had said Wangchuk had lost around 11 kg during the course of his hunger strike.
PEACE APPEAL BEFORE ENDING FAST
Hours before ending his fast, Wangchuk appealed for calm, saying he was deeply concerned by reports that “anti-social elements” were attempting to provoke violence while the protests at Jantar Mantar had remained peaceful.
“Peace and only peace is my way,” he wrote on X, urging supporters not to respond with violence “no matter what the other side does”.
DAY 26
PEACE & ONLY PEACE IS MY WAY…
While at Jantar Mantar the protests remain peaceful I’m pained to learn that elsewhere some antisocial elements are taking advantage of the peaceful protests to provoke violence.
No matter what the other side does our response must only be…— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 23, 2026
GOVERNMENT STEPS UP RESPONSE
Wangchuk’s decision to end his fast came hours after the Centre unveiled a series of measures aimed at addressing concerns over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Late on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Union Cabinet would discuss a draft law providing for fast-track courts and stricter punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks. In a video message, Modi said the government had already ensured that students did not lose an academic year by conducting the re-examination and declaring the results, but stressed that it was “not satisfied” with those steps alone.
He said the proposed legislation, which includes provisions for speedy trials and tougher penalties, would be finalised after Cabinet approval and introduced in Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session.
