Activist Sonam Wangchuk has offered to end his indefinite hunger strike if the government guarantees that young protesters demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak will not face punitive legal action.
Wangchuk, whose fast entered its 25th day on Thursday, said he was prepared to stop immediately if authorities provided an unequivocal assurance against prosecutions, arrests or retaliatory measures linked to the “Sansad Chalo” march in New Delhi. Without such a commitment, he said the protest would continue indefinitely despite mounting concerns over his health.
The engineer, education reformer and environmental campaigner conveyed his position in communications addressed to senior government figures, including Health Minister J P Nadda and Minister of State Jitendra Singh. He argued that young demonstrators should not be penalised for seeking transparency in the examination system and accountability from public officials.
Wangchuk is receiving treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after the Delhi High Court ordered his transfer from Safdarjung Hospital. His condition has been described as stable, although prolonged fasting has left him weak and requiring close medical supervision. Supporters have urged him to end the strike, warning that continuing without food could cause lasting damage.
He began fasting on June 28 at Jantar Mantar in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, a youth-led movement that has expanded from an online campaign into a nationwide protest network. Its supporters are demanding action over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test, broader examination reforms and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The agitation intensified after police removed Wangchuk from the protest site on July 18 and admitted him to Safdarjung Hospital. Police maintained that the intervention followed medical advice and concerns about his deteriorating condition. Organisers described the action as forcible and said it had been carried out without adequate consultation with his family or representatives.
Tensions escalated further during the July 20 march towards Parliament. Thousands of demonstrators attempted to move through central Delhi despite restrictions imposed by the authorities. Police used barricades, batons and tear gas to stop sections of the crowd, while protesters regrouped in smaller contingents across the city.
Dozens of demonstrators were injured or detained during the confrontation, although accounts of the numbers varied. Images of police action circulated widely, drawing criticism from opposition parties, civil liberties campaigners, medical associations and student organisations.
Wangchuk’s demand centres on the legal consequences of the march. Protest organisers fear that participants could face criminal cases relating to unlawful assembly, obstruction, damage to public property or breaches of prohibitory orders. His insistence on immunity has shifted the immediate focus of the hunger strike from ministerial accountability to the protection of protesters.
The government has begun signalling a willingness to discuss the movement’s concerns. Nadda met representatives associated with the campaign and promised further dialogue on their demands. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also pledged fast-track courts and stringent punishment for people found responsible for examination leaks and related corruption.
Those measures have not satisfied protest leaders. They argue that faster prosecutions will have limited value without independent oversight, transparent investigations, accountability at the ministerial level and structural changes to agencies responsible for conducting high-stakes examinations.
The NEET controversy has affected more than two million candidates seeking admission to medical colleges. Allegations surrounding the examination have included advance access to question papers, organised cheating networks and weaknesses in test administration. The scandal has revived concerns about the security of national examinations and the enormous financial and emotional burden placed on candidates.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has urged Wangchuk to preserve his health while maintaining pressure on the government through peaceful mobilisation. The organisation has said it will continue campaigning but has indicated that another Parliament march is unlikely while discussions and legal questions remain unresolved.
Opposition MPs have disrupted parliamentary proceedings in support of the protesters and demanded a debate on examination failures and police conduct. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among those detained briefly during demonstrations connected with the movement.
