Saurabh Mukherjee
Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike late Thursday (July 23) night at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, where he was joined by Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh and senior members of the Apex Body of Leh Ladakh.
The decision came after prolonged negotiations and amid growing concerns over his health and the possibility of violence during the ongoing protests.
Sharing a photograph from the hospital on X, Wangchuk said, "Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda & Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days."
He added, "Earlier 65 in members of parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break the 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. meanwhile urge you all to stay very vitillant about not allowing violence of any kind anywhere."
The development followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that a proposal for stricter action against examination paper leaks would be discussed by the Union Cabinet on Friday.
In a post on X, Modi said the government had already introduced several stringent measures after the paper leak controversy emerged, adding that several accused had been arrested and sent to jail.
The Prime Minister also said the government had conducted a re-examination for 22 lakh students at short notice and recently announced the results. He said legislation providing for fast-track courts and tougher punishment for those involved in paper leaks would soon be taken up.
"I gave instructions to the departments today for a fast track court. Today, the departments worked continuously and gave me a draft late at night as well. This draft, with provisions for fast track courts and strict punishment, will be discussed in the cabinet tomorrow. After suggestions from cabinet colleagues, it will be given its final form, and from Monday, the second week of Parliament is beginning, when efforts will be made to get that bill passed in the House as soon as possible," he said.
Following the announcement of Wangchuk's decision, Modi urged him to prioritise his health and follow medical advice.
"I urge Sonam ji to follow her routine as per the doctors' advice and regain her old weight as soon as possible. I pray to the Lord that Sonam ji remains healthy," he wrote in another post.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also welcomed the end of the hunger strike and thanked Wangchuk for what he described as his "courage and sacrifice."
"We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Thank you, sir, for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice. By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation. Your life is far too precious to this country," he said.
However, the conclusion of Wangchuk's fast did not bring an end to the wider agitation. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das dismissed the government's proposed measures, including the creation of fast-track courts, as “eyewash” and warned people against being “taken in” by the announcements.
“We are not backing out,” he told reporters.
“We have given a call for a nationwide protest tomorrow; let there be a Jantar Mantar in every district of the country, because real awakening comes from the grassroots,” he said, while welcoming the end of Sonam Wangchuk’s fast.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also criticised Modi's announcement, arguing that the central demands of the protesting students had not been addressed.
“Mr. Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Don’t insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video. 1. Sack Pradhan. 2. Punish those who beat students. 3. Apologise,” he wrote.
Dipke, meanwhile, said the protest at Jantar Mantar would continue, even as the organisation expressed relief over Wangchuk ending his fast.
The CJP has also rejected the Prime Minister's late-night proposals, signalling that the broader confrontation over the alleged paper leaks and demands for accountability is likely to continue despite the end of Wangchuk's hunger strike.
The decision came after prolonged negotiations and amid growing concerns over his health and the possibility of violence during the ongoing protests.
Sharing a photograph from the hospital on X, Wangchuk said, "Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda & Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days."
He added, "Earlier 65 in members of parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break the 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. meanwhile urge you all to stay very vitillant about not allowing violence of any kind anywhere."
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
The development followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement that a proposal for stricter action against examination paper leaks would be discussed by the Union Cabinet on Friday.
In a post on X, Modi said the government had already introduced several stringent measures after the paper leak controversy emerged, adding that several accused had been arrested and sent to jail.
The Prime Minister also said the government had conducted a re-examination for 22 lakh students at short notice and recently announced the results. He said legislation providing for fast-track courts and tougher punishment for those involved in paper leaks would soon be taken up.
"I gave instructions to the departments today for a fast track court. Today, the departments worked continuously and gave me a draft late at night as well. This draft, with provisions for fast track courts and strict punishment, will be discussed in the cabinet tomorrow. After suggestions from cabinet colleagues, it will be given its final form, and from Monday, the second week of Parliament is beginning, when efforts will be made to get that bill passed in the House as soon as possible," he said.
Following the announcement of Wangchuk's decision, Modi urged him to prioritise his health and follow medical advice.
"I urge Sonam ji to follow her routine as per the doctors' advice and regain her old weight as soon as possible. I pray to the Lord that Sonam ji remains healthy," he wrote in another post.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke also welcomed the end of the hunger strike and thanked Wangchuk for what he described as his "courage and sacrifice."
"We are relieved and grateful that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike after 26 days. Thank you, sir, for your extraordinary courage and sacrifice. By putting your own life on the line, you awakened the conscience of an entire nation. Your life is far too precious to this country," he said.
However, the conclusion of Wangchuk's fast did not bring an end to the wider agitation. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das dismissed the government's proposed measures, including the creation of fast-track courts, as “eyewash” and warned people against being “taken in” by the announcements.
“We are not backing out,” he told reporters.
“We have given a call for a nationwide protest tomorrow; let there be a Jantar Mantar in every district of the country, because real awakening comes from the grassroots,” he said, while welcoming the end of Sonam Wangchuk’s fast.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also criticised Modi's announcement, arguing that the central demands of the protesting students had not been addressed.
“Mr. Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Don’t insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video. 1. Sack Pradhan. 2. Punish those who beat students. 3. Apologise,” he wrote.
Dipke, meanwhile, said the protest at Jantar Mantar would continue, even as the organisation expressed relief over Wangchuk ending his fast.
The CJP has also rejected the Prime Minister's late-night proposals, signalling that the broader confrontation over the alleged paper leaks and demands for accountability is likely to continue despite the end of Wangchuk's hunger strike.
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