Activist Wangchuk Sets Condition to End 25-Day Hunger Strike: No Action Against Protesters

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, now on day 25 of his indefinite hunger strike, has offered to end his fast if the central government assures no punitive or retaliatory action against students and youth who participated in recent protests. This critical condition comes after Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh visited him, offering assurances on other demands like compensation for students' families affected by the NEET paper leak and a parliamentary discussion on accountability. Wangchuk, currently at Medanta Hospital, has lost significant weight but remains firm on protecting the young protesters. The backdrop to Wangchuk's protest is the widespread outrage over the alleged NEET paper leak, which has sparked nationwide student protests and calls for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is actively probing the irregularities and is preparing its first chargesheet against 13 arrested individuals, though no National Testing Agency (NTA) officials are named in this initial filing. Political pressure is mounting, with opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik demanding Pradhan's resignation amidst the ongoing controversy. Looking ahead, the government's response to Wangchuk's latest condition is crucial for de-escalating the intense student agitation and political standoff. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent announcement of fast-track courts for paper leak cases signals a commitment to speedy justice, but the immediate concern remains the safety and legal protection of the thousands of young people who have joined the protests. The coming days will show whether the Centre can provide the unequivocal assurance needed to bring Wangchuk's impactful hunger strike to a close and calm the national unrest.