Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk officially ended his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday, announcing the decision through his X account. The 59-year-old had been fasting since June 28, acting in solidarity with the youth-led "Cockroach" movement. This protest, which has persisted for over a month, originated from student demands for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following a scandal involving leaked medical exam papers.
The movement has since expanded significantly, drawing participation from professionals and families who are channeling broader frustrations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government. Wangchuk stated that his decision to break the fast followed "long negotiation on various conditions" and was made "in view of possible violence in the country."
Detailing the conclusion of his fast, Wangchuk wrote, "Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days." He further noted that 65 members of parliament from various political parties had reached out to him, either through personal visits or direct appeals, to end his hunger strike. Earlier on Thursday, Wangchuk had expressed a willingness to stop his protest if the government provided assurances that it would not harm student demonstrators.
The activist, who was relocated from the Jantar Mantar protest site by police this past Saturday, also urged his supporters to remain vigilant against violence. Beyond his personal safety concerns, Wangchuk maintained his advocacy for specific government actions, including the resignation of the education minister and the provision of compensation for the families of students who died by suicide during the crisis.
The "Cockroach" movement continues to face pressure from authorities. On Thursday, protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar despite new restrictions, following overnight clashes in which police employed batons and tear gas to disperse the crowds. This confrontation marked the second such incident this week, following a Monday protest that resulted in violent clashes and dozens of arrests as demonstrators attempted to march toward the parliament. In response to the police crackdown, the opposition Congress Party has called for the resignations of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
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