Kumar Bahukhandi
Releasing a 24:22-minute video from Medanta Hospital, where he is still under observation, Sonam Wangchuk said he wanted the members of the Opposition as well as the CJP to be present, but the “agencies” did not agree. Photo: X/@Wangchuk66
‘I focused on getting justice for the students and young people against whom FIRs have been registered. We saw what happened after the Ladakh incident on September 24, 2025: around 80 people were arrested and thrown in jails. For me, the future of these young people is more important,’ says Wangchuk
After being criticised by several social media users for ending his hunger strike in the presence of Union Ministers, activist Sonam Wangchuk released a long video message on Friday July 24, 2026 where he asserted that he “did not cut any deal” with the government and ended the fast as he feared a crackdown against students and protestors at Jantar Mantar.
He said he did not press for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as it is inevitable due to the ongoing Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar and movement by the youth across the country. He ended the fast around 12:30 a.m. Friday July 24, in the presence of Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, his wife and civil society leaders from Ladakh. Nadda served him soup to end the strike.
“Instead, I focused on getting justice for the students and young people against whom FIRs have been registered. We saw what happened after the Ladakh incident on September 24, 2025: around 80 people were arrested and thrown in jails. For me, the future of these young people is more important. Government wasn’t ready to give a written assurance, but I refused to end my hunger strike without this key point being included in the agreement,”
Releasing a 24:22-minute video from Medanta Hospital, where he is still under observation, Wangchuk said he wanted the members of Opposition as well as the CJP to be present, but the “agencies” did not agree.
He said that even now his movement and those of his visitors has been restricted at Medanta Hospital and he is contemplating to move a contempt petition in the Delhi High Court.
He added that he managed to ensure the presence of civil society leaders from Ladakh on Thursday July 23 night.
“I have lost 11 kgs, have no muscle mass. I was sitting there in heat and humidity. After 26-days of hunger strike, do I need to prove my sincerity,” he said.
