'Don't take legal action against students, I'll end my fast': Sonam Wangchuk's message to Centre
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has said he is prepared to end his 25-day hunger strike if the Centre gives an unequivocal assurance that no legal action will be taken against students and young protesters who joined the movement demanding accountability over the NEET paper leak.
In a letter addressed to Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk said he could not abandon the young people who had stood up for a fair and transparent education system.
"I respectfully request an unequivocal assurance from the government that none of the young protesters will face any punitive or retaliatory legal action for participating in the movement," he wrote.
'Young people only demanded accountability'
The 59-year-old activist stressed that the protesters had exercised their democratic right by raising concerns over repeated examination paper leaks and seeking reforms in the education system.
He said he wished to return to his work in education but could not do so at the expense of students who had participated in the protests.
"If such an assurance is given, I shall end my fast with faith that the government has heard not only my appeal but also the aspirations of lakhs of young Indians," he said.
Ministers visited him at hospital
Wangchuk is currently undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after being shifted from Safdarjung Hospital two days ago, where he had alleged negligence in his care.
In his letter, he thanked Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh for visiting him at the hospital on Monday night.
According to Wangchuk, the ministers assured him that the government would consider providing compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide following the paper leak controversy.
They also indicated that the issue could be discussed in Parliament to ensure accountability, including consideration of demands seeking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
Detained during Jantar Mantar protest
Wangchuk was removed by Delhi Police from the Jantar Mantar protest site on Saturday after completing three weeks of fasting as part of the satirical political movement Cockroach Janata Party's campaign against the handling of the NEET paper leak issue.
Despite being taken to hospital, he refused to end his fast and has now entered Day 25 of the indefinite hunger strike.
Appeals to end fast, but one condition remains
The activist said around 65 Members of Parliament had appealed to him over the past few hours to call off his fast.
However, he maintained that he would do so only after the Centre publicly assures that students who participated in Monday's march to Parliament would not face punitive or retaliatory action.
Wangchuk also described the march as "very peaceful" despite alleging police excesses during the demonstration.
The activist has been on hunger strike since June 28 over the NEET paper leak issue.
He had previously led protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and was detained for nearly six months last year after violence during a protest in Leh left four people dead.
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