Activist Sonam Wangchuk officially concluded his 26-day hunger strike in Delhi on Friday. The protest, which centered on a major exam paper scandal, has evolved into a widespread youth-led movement challenging the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Wangchuk stated on social media that his decision to end the strike came after extensive negotiations with two federal ministers and at the request of numerous members of parliament. He cited concerns regarding the potential for violence as a primary reason for halting his action, promising to provide further details in an upcoming video.
The protest movement, organized under the Cockroach Janta party (CJP), continues to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement maintains that Pradhan must be held accountable for exam paper leaks that impacted 2 million students in May and have been linked to several student suicides. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke expressed gratitude for Wangchuk’s sacrifice and confirmed that the demonstrations would persist until the minister steps down.
While the government has urged protesters to engage in talks, the movement remains defiant. In his first public response to the crisis earlier this week, Pradhan noted the government's commitment to reforming the examination system. Prime Minister Modi also addressed the situation, suggesting that special courts would be established to prosecute those responsible for the leaks, declaring that the welfare of the youth is the government's priority. However, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka dismissed the proposal, arguing that fast-track courts have historically failed to resolve such deep-seated issues.
The protests have drawn tens of thousands of participants and have begun to disrupt daily life. On Thursday, authorities in Delhi closed 16 metro stations and blocked mobile internet services in the vicinity of the Jantar Mantar protest site, a move that also hindered local businesses from processing digital payments. Demonstrations have since spread to other cities, including Ranchi, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kolkata. The movement has also received support from prominent Bollywood figures such as Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, and Kareena Kapoor. As the monsoon session of parliament faces disruptions from opposition parties echoing the protesters' demands, Modi has indicated that the cabinet will announce stricter measures against exam irregularities during a meeting on Friday.
Late on Tuesday, Pradhan, in his first comments since demands for his resignation were made, said the government was committed to addressing concerns and reforming exams.
The government also ordered telecom firms to block mobile internet services in the area, sources told Reuters, a move that not only affected protesters but also stopped shops and restaurants receiving digital payments by phone.
