New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike on the 26th day late Thursday after reaching an understanding with the Centre, as the government moved to address the NEET paper leak controversy with a series of assurances to protesting students and a proposed law providing for fast-track courts and stricter punishment for those involved in paper leaks.
Reacting to Wangchuk ending his fast, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said the activist’s sacrifice had awakened the conscience of the nation, but added that the CJP’s agitation would continue.
“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. The protest at Jantar Mantar will continue till Pradhan resigns,” Dipke wrote on X.
Wangchuk broke his fast in the presence of Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh and senior leaders of the Apex Body of Leh-Ladakh after prolonged negotiations with the government.
“I finally broke my fast after 26 days. Earlier, 65 Members of Parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break the fast. This was done after long negotiations on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country,” he said in a post on X.
Just now in the presence of Union Ministers Sh. JP Nadda, Dr. Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days. Earlier 65 members of parliament from different political parties had visited or signed letters urging me to break… pic.twitter.com/RFCet7Oksy
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 23, 2026
Wangchuk also appealed to supporters to ensure there was no violence anywhere.
Shortly before Wangchuk’s announcement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the government’s biggest response yet to the paper leak controversy, saying a law providing for fast-track courts and tougher punishment for paper leaks was being readied.
In a video message released late Thursday night, Modi said he had received a draft proposal after directing officials earlier in the day to prepare measures to deal with examination paper leaks.
More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet! pic.twitter.com/NRysBukk5U
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2026
Describing paper leaks as a matter of “immense distress” for lakhs of students and their parents, the Prime Minister said the draft would be placed before the Union Cabinet on Friday before being introduced in Parliament as early as next week.
PM Modi said the government’s immediate priority had been to ensure students did not lose an academic year. Examinations for around 22 lakh candidates were conducted in a short span and results declared on 19 July, he said, adding that several arrests linked to the paper leak had been made.
The government also released a video detailing the assurances given to Wangchuk before he ended his fast. It said the Centre was positively inclined not to register cases against students who protested peacefully at Jantar Mantar, had already assured a detailed discussion in Parliament on the NEET paper leak and broader education reforms, and was positively considering compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the leak.
Earlier in the day, in his first public remarks on the issue, Modi had said in a post on X that “nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth’ and announced the decision to set up fast-track courts.
Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!
We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 23, 2026
He said authorities had been directed to take all necessary steps and asserted that those attempting to jeopardise students’ futures “will not be spared’.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi dismissed Modi’s announcement, saying it ignored the protesters’ main demand.
“Mr Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Don’t insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video,” Gandhi wrote on X. He demanded Pradhan’s resignation, action against those responsible for the police action on students and an apology to the students from the government.
Mr. Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Don’t insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video.
1. Sack Pradhan.
2. Punish those who beat students.
3. Apologise https://t.co/7SLB6pQqZx
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 23, 2026
Earlier on Thursday, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) appointed IAS officer Naresh Pal Gangwar as High Education Secretary, replacing Vineet Joshi, who has been transferred as Secretary in the Department of Panchayati Raj.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)