Three Key Demands Accepted: Sonam Wangchuk Releases New Video After Ending Hunger Strike

New Delhi: Ladakh social activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended her 26-day-long hunger strike. He said that he decided to break the fast only after getting written assurance from the central government. Late Thursday night, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh reached Medanta Hospital and met him. Representatives of the apex body of Leh-Ladakh were also present there during the meeting.

Why was the decision taken to end the fast?

Wangchuk said that continuous talks were going on with the government for the last two days. His demand was that all assurances should be given not only verbally but also in writing. For this reason, it took two extra days to make the decision and he had to continue his hunger strike for two more days. He said that if needed, he was ready to continue the fast further, but after written assurance from the government, he decided to end this phase of the movement.

What role did the MPs play?

Wangchuk said that about 65 MPs from different political parties had come to meet him. Many MPs signed the letter appealing to him to end the fast. He assured that issues like NEET paper leak and improvement in the examination system will be discussed in Parliament.

What did the government say in the written assurance?

According to Wangchuk, the government has said three main things in writing.

• No case will be registered against the peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar and those who participated in the Parliament march on July 20.
• Measures to stop paper leaks and improve the examination system will be discussed in Parliament so that a permanent solution can be found.
• The government will also positively consider the proposal to provide compensation to the families of students who lost their lives in paper leak-related cases.

Expressed gratitude to Ladakh's apex body and MPs?

After ending the fast, Wangchuk thanked the leaders of the apex body of Leh-Ladakh and all the MPs who had come to meet him. He said that for the first time after a long time, he got a chance to eat something and it tasted good, but the pain of hunger cannot be expressed in words.