Sonam Wangchuk ended her hunger strike after 26 days. This decision, taken after PM Modi’s fast-track court announcement, left many questions. After all, on what conditions was the fast broken?
Sonam Wangchuk Hunger Strike: On the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, a commotion took place in Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital which changed the direction of the country’s politics and student movement. Noted activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on an indefinite hunger strike for the last 26 days in support of the students protesting at Jantar Mantar against the reform of the education system and paper leaks, finally broke her fast. This dramatic turn came when Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh themselves reached the hospital to meet him. In the presence of ministers, Wangchuk ended his fast by sipping some beverages from a cup in front of his wife Gitanjali Angmo and senior leaders of the apex body of Leh-Ladakh. Holding the hands of Nadda and Singh, Wangchuk said emotionally, “I am grateful and happy to end my fast.”
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Many conditions and fear of violence: Wangchuk’s mysterious message on social media
This decision of Wangchuk, who was fasting since June 28, was not sudden. Sharing a post on social media platform X, he hinted at the intricacies behind the agreement. He revealed that this historic step was driven by an appeal by 65 MPs from different parties, several rounds of lengthy negotiations with the government and an effort to avert possible violence in the country. “I will explain all these conditions in detail in a separate video soon. In the meantime, I urge all of you not to allow any kind of violence anywhere and remain very alert,” Wangchuk said, adopting a cryptic tone. This statement clearly indicates that there is a lot behind the scenes that is yet to be revealed.
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That big announcement of PM Modi: which shook the foundation of the movement
The ground for this decision of Wangchuk was prepared by the big assurance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which worked to calm the anger of the students. Just hours before the nationwide protests called by the satirical group ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP) on Friday, PM Modi released a video message. Acknowledging the pain of the paper leak, he said, “Friends, I know that the paper leak is not a minor issue.” The PM announced that he has directed to create a fast-track court for speedy trial of paper leak cases based on a draft received late last night. Along with this, he said that the culprits have already been sent behind the bars and the priority of the government is to save the lives of 22 lakh students. PM Modi welcomed Wangchuk’s decision and wished for his speedy recovery.
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Will the storm of Jantar Mantar subside or is the real turning point still to come?
Although Wangchuk has broken the fast, the future of the movement is still in suspense. On Wednesday itself, he had made it clear that he would step back only when the government gives a firm assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action will be taken against the students and youth who took part in the protests. Since the CJP and the students’ movement were adamant on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accountability of the entire education system, it will be interesting to see whether the ‘secret conditions’ soon to be revealed by Wangchuk end this impasse or give rise to a new political conflict in the country.
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