Indian activist Wangchuk ends 26-day hunger strike over exam paper leaks

What the report says

Al Jazeera, citing its staff and Reuters, reported that Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has stopped a 26-day hunger strike tied to protests over examination paper leaks. Wangchuk, 59, had been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In a post on X late Thursday, he said he was ending the fast after negotiations over conditions and because of concerns about possible violence, adding that he would explain the terms separately.

The report said Wangchuk began fasting on June 28 in support of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, which has been pressing for Pradhan to quit over leaks affecting medical college entrance examinations. Al Jazeera reported that the controversy forced millions of candidates to retake the exam and has helped fuel large demonstrations, including at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and elsewhere in India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the issue in a video posted on X shortly before Wangchuk’s announcement, according to the article. Modi said the government planned stronger legislation to curb paper leaks, was considering faster court action against those involved, and would take up the matter in cabinet on Friday. He described the leaks as painful for hundreds of thousands of students but did not refer to Pradhan.

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said on X that he was relieved Wangchuk had ended the hunger strike, while saying the group’s protest at Jantar Mantar would continue until Pradhan resigns. The episode matters because exam integrity is a major concern for students and families in India, and Al Jazeera described the protests as a significant challenge for Modi after his 2024 re-election.