Wangchuk Prioritizes Student Safety Over Ministerial Resignation to End 26-Day Fast

Strategic Retreat to Prevent State Retaliation

Educational reformer Sonam Wangchuk has defended his decision to conclude a 26-day hunger strike without securing the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Speaking from a hospital bed in Gurugram, the 59-year-old activist explained that his primary objective shifted from political symbolism to the physical and legal safety of student protesters. Wangchuk had been fasting in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) following systemic failures and paper leaks in national competitive examinations.

The hunger strike ended shortly after midnight on Thursday when the Union government provided a formal written commitment. This document ensures that no criminal cases or First Information Reports (FIRs) will be filed against participants of the 'Sansad Chalo' march. Wangchuk cited fears of a repeat of the September 2025 violence in Ladakh, where security forces opened fire on local youth, as a driving force behind his haste to de-escalate the tension in Delhi.

Terms of the Agreement and Parliamentary Reforms

The settlement reached between Wangchuk and the Centre includes several key concessions beyond legal immunity for protesters. Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh visited Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital to finalize the following terms:

• A dedicated parliamentary discussion regarding comprehensive examination reforms and strategies to prevent future paper leaks.
• Official consideration of financial compensation for families of students who died by suicide following the NEET paper leak irregularities.
• A transition from verbal promises to a binding written assurance regarding the protection of peaceful demonstrators.

Wangchuk dismissed allegations of a clandestine deal with the government, questioning why he would endure 26 days of physical deprivation in Delhi's extreme heat if a simple compromise had been his initial goal.

The Stance on Ministerial Accountability

Despite the lack of an immediate resignation, Wangchuk characterized the departure of Dharmendra Pradhan as an inevitable outcome that he chose not to stall negotiations over. He revealed that while Union ministers requested more time to deliberate on the personnel change, he viewed the delay as damaging to the government's own reputation rather than a failure of the protest. "Their reputation is being tarnished nationwide," Wangchuk noted, suggesting that public anger would eventually force the government's hand.

While expressing regret that his fellow activists and supporting Members of Parliament were blocked from witnessing the end of his fast, Wangchuk maintained that the movement for accountability remains active. He asserted that the demand for the minister's resignation will continue through organized civil advocacy, even as his personal hunger strike concludes.

Source: NDTV Trending