Sonam Wangchuk Ends Hunger Strike Over Paper Leak Protest

Sonam Wangchuk ended his hunger strike after supporters, students, and political leaders backed his protest against the paper leak issue. He had been on a fast at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, along with students and supporters, demanding action over the examination leak and the damage it caused to students.

Mr Wangchuk, a Ladakh-based innovator, engineer, environmentalist, and education reformer, joined the protest to support students affected by the leak. He also linked the issue to broader concerns about fairness, accountability, and the future of young people. The protest gained momentum on June 28, 2026, when he began the hunger strike with support from CJP leader Abhijeet Deepak and students.

On July 18, after 21 days of fasting, police moved him to hospital. On July 20, students from across India gathered at Jantar Mantar and began marching toward Parliament to show support. He later ended the hunger strike on July 23, 2026, after receiving written support and acceptance of demands from 66 members of Parliament and Union Health Minister J. D. Nanda.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi later said the paper leak was not a normal issue and caused deep pain to lakhs of students and their families. He said the government had taken several steps over the previous two and a half months and that those responsible had already been arrested. He also said the government’s immediate priority was to prevent students from losing an academic year by holding fresh examinations quickly for nearly 22 lakh students.

Modi added that the government had used its full power to arrange the exams and had also directed departments to prepare a proposal for fast-track courts. He said the departments worked hard and submitted the draft proposal late at night.