GURGAON/NEW DELHI: Hours after he ended his 26-day hunger strike in the presence of Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Sonam Wangchuk said he made the decision only after he got assurances from the govt and MPs across party lines that his demands for exam reforms and no action against peaceful protesters would be met.In a video posted on X early Friday, Wangchuk said he extended his fast by two days as negotiations with the Centre were under way and he finally got a written assurance.“End of hunger… Beginning of accountability,” Wangchuk posted on X, sharing a video explaining his decision to end the hunger strike. “Negotiations were on for these assurances since the last two days, for which I had to extend my hunger strike. I could have extended it further if required,” he said.After Wangchuk broke his fast, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke posted on X: “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. The Cockroach Janta Party’s peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.”Wangchuk said in his post that he ended the fast after getting assurance from the government and MPs of all political parties that the issue of accountability in the ‘failing’ examination system would be discussed in Parliament.The engineer and climate activist broke his fast with juice a little after 12.30 am Friday and followed it up with a bowl of chicken soup as part of the initial phase of nutritional rehabilitation, according to sources in Medanta.“After 26 days, this tastes very good, but hunger doesn’t taste bad either. My doctors here have been very, very kind,” he said from his hospital bed, surrounded by doctors, the ministers and his wife Gitanjali J Angmo.He said 65 MPs from different political parties had extended support to his campaign and that he insisted on a written commitment after two days of discussions with the Centre.“Both the ruling party and MPs from the opposition have assured me their discussions will happen on thefloor of Parliament regarding reforms in the examination system like NEET and others, and that we will also be discussing the accountability of such lapses. And that we will make sure such things never happen… You will take accountability in the ministry with the minister also as a responsibility, and I’m sure you are already considering. And with these assurances, I’m touched and grateful to govt, and I want to appeal to the protesting students to maintain utmost peace. To express their feelings is a legitimate thing, but I do not approve violence of any kind, and allowing any antisocial elements to take advantage of this is not acceptable to me. It should be a genuine demand by genuinely concerned people, in this case youngsters. Sowith that being fulfilled, I’m grateful and I’ll be happy to break my fast,” he says in the video.The government also assured that the families of those students who took their lives after the NEETUG paper leak in May would be adequately compensated, and no cases would be registered against the students and youth protesting peacefully, Wangchuk said.He also shared the text of the assurance letter that Nadda read out at the hospital before he broke his fast.“The govt is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and those who participated in the march to Parliament on July 20,” the letter said.Angmo, meanwhile, posted on X Friday evening, “Before you rush to criticise Sonam Wangchuk, first pause to earn the ethos of fasting for 26 days for a cause larger than yourself. He lies in the ICU today, having lost 11 kg, including muscle mass, because he chose sacrifice over comfort. The least we can offer him is a day of compassion before burdening him with our own expectations and political calculations. Not everyone is qualified to judge a life of selfless service. One must first earn the moral stature to do so. Please.. Have a heart.”Given that he had gone without food for nearly four weeks, doctors are taking a cautious approach to his rehabilitation into a regular diet. According to hospital sources, Wangchuk will initially be given nutritional supplements and liquids before solid food is introduced in phases, allowing his digestive system to readjust and minimising risk of complications associated with prolonged fasting. Wangchuk, according to sources, is likely to be discharged in tw othree days.
