- Wangchuk wrote to Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh stating he will end his fast if the Centre assures no action against protesters.
- Wangchuk directly requested an unequivocal assurance from the government that none of the young protesters will face punitive or retaliatory legal action, as their only 'offence' was raising their voice for a fair education system.
- He said if such an assurance is given, he will end his fast with faith that the government heard the aspirations of lakhs of young Indians; otherwise, he will continue indefinitely.
- Wangchuk shared the letter on X, stating that once the assurance comes, he will appeal to peacefully protesting students to halt the movement and enter into dialogue with the government.
- Wangchuk described the July 20 'Chalo Sansad' march as very peaceful despite what he called atrocities and disproportionate use of force by police.
- He noted that around 65 MPs from different parties wrote to him, urging him to end his fast, and he agreed with their appeal, stating he wants to live and return to his students and work, but cannot abandon the young protesters.
- A delegation of opposition MPs including Vivek Tankha (Congress), John Brittas (CPI(M)), and Sagarika Ghose (TMC) met Wangchuk and appealed to him to end his fast; they assured that issues of examination reforms and accountability would be taken up in Parliament, and they would press the government against coercive action.
Sonam Wangchuk, a prominent education reformer, has communicated to Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dharmendra Pradhan that he will end his hunger strike if the government guarantees no punitive actions against students protesting alleged examination irregularities.1
“Therefore, I respectfully request an unequivocal assurance from the government that none of the young protesters will face any punitive or retaliatory legal action for participating in this movement,” Wangchuk stated in his letter.
He emphasized the importance of the students' voices in advocating for a fair education system, stating, “If such an assurance is given, I shall end my fast with faith that the government has heard not only my appeal but also the aspirations of lakhs of young Indians.”
Wangchuk's fast has garnered significant attention, with around 65 MPs from various political parties urging him to reconsider his stance.67
In a show of solidarity, opposition MPs visited him at Medanta Hospital, assuring him that the issues of examination reforms would be addressed in Parliament.
Wangchuk expressed his desire to return to his educational work, saying, “I want to return to my students, to education, and to the work that has defined my life.”
He also noted the peaceful nature of the recent protests, despite police actions, and indicated that he would encourage students to halt their protests if the government responds positively.
“The nation, especially its youth, needs your wisdom and guidance far more than your sacrifice,” the MPs told him, emphasizing the need for his leadership in these challenging times.
“Wangchuk also requested an unequivocal assurance that none of the protesting students will face legal action, describing their only 'offence' as raising their voice for a fair education system. He noted that around 65 MPs from different parties wrote urging him to end his fast, but he cannot abandon the youth.”
