Wangchuk offers to end fast if protesters spared action; stone-pelting leaves six policemen injured in Delhi

23/07/2026

NEW DELHI, July 22: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Wednesday offered to end his 25-day indefinite hunger strike if the Centre assures that no force, FIRs or other punitive action would be taken against protesting students, even as fresh tension erupted near Jantar Mantar where stone-pelting left six police personnel, including two Assistant Commissioners of Police, injured.
Wangchuk, who is undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram and has lost around 11 kg during his fast, said he wanted to return to his work but would continue the hunger strike until the government gave an assurance regarding the students.
"I want to start my work, but I request the government not to use force again on students and do not file any charges or FIRs. I need an assurance for that. If I get that assurance, I will break my fast today," Wangchuk said in a video message from the hospital.
His appeal came against the backdrop of continuing protests over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and demands for reforms in the education system and accountability over the alleged NEET paper leak.
Later in the evening, the situation near Jantar Mantar turned tense after protesters allegedly resorted to stone-pelting, leaving two ACPs and four other police personnel injured, police sources said.
Police claimed that several "anti-social elements" had entered the protest site and were not listening even to the organisers.
According to police, ACP Jai Prakash, posted in Punjabi Bagh, suffered an injury on his forehead at around 4.30 pm when protesters allegedly pelted stones at personnel deployed at the site.
A second stone-pelting incident later in the day left another ACP and at least four police personnel injured, sources said.
All the injured personnel were shifted to a nearby hospital and their condition was stated to be stable.
Police said repeated announcements were made asking protesters to maintain peace and not disturb law and order.
Wangchuk, meanwhile, said he decided to continue his hunger strike following police action during Monday's "Chalo Sansad" march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
He claimed the march had remained peaceful despite what he described as disproportionate police action and alleged that people had been brought in to indulge in stone-pelting. Police, however, on Wednesday attributed the stone-pelting to "anti-social elements" who had entered the protest site.
Wangchuk said several political leaders, including Union ministers and 65 MPs, had urged him to end his fast.
In a letter to Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk said the two had met him at the hospital on Tuesday night and assured him that the Centre would positively consider adequate compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper "leak".
According to Wangchuk, the ministers also assured consideration of a meaningful discussion in Parliament on accountability for examination irregularities, including the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Wangchuk sought an additional assurance that no action would be initiated against students participating in the agitation, saying their only "offence" was raising their voice for a fair and accountable education system.
He said that once such an assurance was received, he would appeal to protesting students to suspend their agitation for the time being and enter into dialogue with the government.
Earlier in the day, a delegation of opposition MPs, including Congress leader Vivek Tankha, CPI(M)'s John Brittas and TMC's Sagarika Ghose, met Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital and appealed to him to end his hunger strike.
MPs from several opposition parties also assured him in a letter that examination reforms and accountability in the education sector would be raised in Parliament and that they would press the government against coercive action on peaceful protesters.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining the CJP-led agitation seeking accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and Pradhan's resignation.
He was shifted to Medanta Hospital from Safdarjung Hospital following an order of the Delhi High Court.

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