Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike as youth protests spread across India

Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike as youth protests spread across India

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike on Friday, July 24. The fast was centered on leaked medical school entrance exam papers that protesters claim enabled cheating. Despite the end of the strike, demonstrations demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are continuing in what is described as the largest youth-led challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government since he took power in 2014.

The movement is led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The group is protesting leaks that affected some 2 million students in May and are linked to several student suicides. The CJP is demanding the resignation of Pradhan, a fresh NEET exam, the withdrawal of cases against protesters, an apology for police action, and ₹1 crore compensation for families of aspirants who died by suicide after the exam was cancelled.

Wangchuk announced on X that he broke his fast in the presence of two federal ministers. He stated the decision followed urging from scores of members of parliament and a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country. He has promised to provide further details in an upcoming video.

Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of CJP, thanked the 59-year-old Wangchuk for his courage and sacrifice in a video message, asserting that protests will persist until Pradhan resigns.

Government Response and Escalation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the crisis on Thursday, stating that special courts would be established to prosecute those responsible for the exam paper leaks. Writing on X, Modi said, Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! He later indicated that the government would announce stricter actions against paper leaks during a cabinet meeting on Friday.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka rejected the proposal for fast-track courts. Ranka questioned why paper leaks occur in the first place and suggested that such courts have not historically solved the issues they were meant to address. On Saturday, Ranka further stated that if Pradhan does not resign, ongoing meetings with the government serve no purpose. While Ranka noted a positive response regarding legal cases and compensation, he emphasized that Pradhan's resignation remains non-negotiable.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan made his first comments regarding the resignation demands late on Tuesday, stating the government remains committed to reforming exams and addressing concerns.

Civil Disruption and Nationwide Spread

The protests have caused significant disruption in central Delhi. On Thursday, authorities shut down 16 metro rail stations and ordered telecom firms to block mobile internet services in the area. These internet blocks reportedly prevented local shops and restaurants from processing digital payments. Additionally, the New Delhi Traders Association asked businesses in the Connaught Place district to close early on Thursday due to a security advisory.

Violence has also broken out. On Wednesday night, more than 10,000 people gathered at the Jantar Mantar protest site, where some protesters attacked police with stones and plastic bottles. On Monday, police used canes and tear gas to disperse tens of thousands of people marching on parliament.

The unrest has spread beyond the capital. Local media reported protests in cities including:

• Kolkata
• Pune
• Ranchi
• Thiruvananthapuram

In response to the instability, Delhi officials ordered liquor shops to close by 8 pm through the weekend based on police inputs regarding the situation at Jantar Mantar.

Broader Impact and Support

The CJP movement, which began as online satire with a few hundred participants, has surged in popularity. This growth is attributed to broader frustrations among young Indians regarding frequent exam leaks and job shortages. High-profile Bollywood figures, including Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Salman Khan, expressed support for the students via social media.

The controversy has also reached Kota, known as India's coaching capital. Pramod Maheshwari, founder of Career Point, expects student numbers to drop to 70,000-80,000 from approximately one lakh in recent years. This decline is attributed to student hesitancy to invest in another year of study amid the current uncertainty.

Prime Minister Modi has attempted to engage the youth, sharing a video on Instagram and thanking them for their insightful suggestions following a late-night interaction.