India's activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended a hunger strike after 26 days of fasting in support of youth-led protesters demanding education reforms. The move followed negotiations over several conditions, including a pledge by the authorities not to use force against protesters, and came after Wangchuk said he wanted to avert further violence in the country.
In a post on X, Wangchuk - better known as
Sonam sir- said he did so
after a long negotiation on various conditionsand also to avert
possible violence in the country.
Wangchuk, 59, went on strike to support the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), whose members also demand the resignation of India's education minister. The activist earlier said he had lost 11kg (24lb) but was
still alive. He was forcibly removed from a protest venue in Delhi last Saturday and taken to hospital.
Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after the government assured him no legal action would be taken against protesters rallying at Janta Mantar site, India's NDTV website reported. India's state and health ministers had visited Wangchuk in hospital.
Reacting to the news, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke wrote in a post on X:
We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days.
But he added:
The Cockroach Janta Party's peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until [Education Minister] Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Mass protests have not stopped in the Indian capital, after the brutal police crackdown on Monday's march to parliament, which left scores of protesters and officers injured.
The CJP is now one of India's most visible youth movements. It emerged in May as an online satirical movement to protest against paper leaks and other irregularities in India's top exams and has gained a massive following on social media.
The protesters, who call themselves cockroaches, have been demonstrating for a month now, with some members also going on hunger strike. They are demanding the resignation of the Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, after a key entrance exam for aspiring doctors was cancelled in early May following a paper leak. They say the minister must take moral responsibility and quit.
What is happening in Delhi?
Mass protests have continued in the Indian capital after the crackdown on Monday's march to parliament, which left scores of protesters and officers injured. The CJP says its peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Why are protesters demanding the minister's resignation?
The protesters say Dharmendra Pradhan must take moral responsibility for the cancellation of a key entrance exam for aspiring doctors in early May after a paper leak. The CJP emerged in May as an online satirical movement against paper leaks and other irregularities in India's top exams, and has since gained a massive following on social media.
Who is Sonam Wangchuk?
Sonam Wangchuk, 59, is an activist better known as
Sonam sirwho backed the youth-led protesters by fasting for 26 days. He said he had lost 11kg (24lb) but was
still alivebefore ending the hunger strike after negotiations and assurances from the authorities.
Key Facts
- Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after 26 days.
- He said he acted
after a long negotiation on various conditions
and to avertpossible violence in the country
. - The CJP says its protest will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
- Protests followed a police crackdown on a march to parliament that left scores injured.
