Wangchuk Clarifies He Hasn't Ended Hunger Strike, Calls For MPs To Hear Students

Educationist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday clarified that he has not ended his 23-day hunger strike, hours after several media organisations reported that he had called off the fast following Union Minister J.P. Nadda's meeting with representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

In a statement posted on Instagram, Wangchuk said he would continue his indefinite fast in view of the police action against students participating in the "Chalo Sansad" march.

"I WILL CONTINUE MY FAST. Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the Parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital," Wangchuk wrote.

He said he hoped the government would fix accountability for the education crisis and act against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Wangchuk also praised the students for remaining peaceful despite what he described as provocation and appealed to the government and the police to resolve the situation by allowing student representatives to present their grievances before Members of Parliament.

Earlier in the day, several media houses had reported that Wangchuk had ended his hunger strike after Union Minister JP Nadda held talks with CJP spokespersons Saurav Das and Ashutosh Rana. The reports emerged after Nadda said discussions had begun following a proposal from the protesters and urged demonstrators to end their sit-in to help restore normalcy.

Wangchuk, however, later made it clear that his fast would continue until his demands were addressed.

Meanwhile, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, outlined the three conditions set by the activist for ending his fast.

Speaking to the media, Angmo said the first demand is the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Second, Cabinet ministers and Members of Parliament must personally assure Wangchuk that issues concerning education will be taken up during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Third, the government must act on the memorandum submitted by the protesters, which includes demands ranging from action over the NEET paper leak to improvements in government schools and broader education reforms.

"The government must listen to the concerns of the youth at the earliest. Good governance means listening to the voices of the youth and resolving this matter without delay," Angmo said, adding that Wangchuk would end his fast only after these assurances are received.

Wangchuk has been admitted to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital since July 18 after his health reportedly deteriorated due to dehydration, low potassium levels and elevated ketone levels.

Earlier on Monday, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ended his indefinite hunger strike following an appeal from Wangchuk and after being persuaded by the father of a NEET aspirant who allegedly died by suicide. Dipke, however, said the movement for education reforms would continue.

The developments came amid the CJP's "Chalo Sansad" march, during which thousands of students and supporters gathered in Delhi demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak and broader reforms in the education sector.