Climate activist and education reform campaigner Sonam Wangchuk has claimed that the Union government assured him it would “positively consider” the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, alongside compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the controversy.
In a letter addressed to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Minister of State Jitendra Singh, Wangchuk said these assurances were conveyed during their visit to him at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after his health deteriorated during his indefinite hunger strike.
However, he has refused to end his fast until the Centre provides a clear written assurance that no student or protester involved in the anti-NEET movement will face criminal, legal or retaliatory action.
While Wangchuk maintains that his movement seeks accountability, transparency and protection for young protesters, the Union government has not publicly confirmed the specific assurances regarding the Education Minister’s resignation or compensation, making the activist’s claims the latest flashpoint in the ongoing standoff over examination reforms.
Demands Beyond Accountability
Wangchuk’s latest letter marks a significant shift in the prolonged protest, which has become one of the most prominent public campaigns demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination.
According to him, Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh visited him in hospital after concerns grew over his deteriorating health and urged him to end his fast.
During those discussions, Wangchuk claims the ministers assured him that the government would positively consider three key demands: the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to establish accountability, adequate compensation for families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the paper leak controversy, and a meaningful discussion in Parliament on reforms to restore public confidence in national examinations.
Despite these claimed assurances, Wangchuk said they were not sufficient to conclude his protest. Instead, he has made the protection of student protesters his primary condition. In his letter, he requested an “unequivocal assurance” that no student or participant in the anti-NEET movement would face criminal proceedings, police action or any retaliatory legal measures for taking part in peaceful demonstrations.
“Their only offence has been to raise their voice for a fair and accountable education system,” he wrote, adding that he could not abandon the movement if doing so left young people vulnerable to legal consequences.
The activist also struck a deeply personal note, writing, “I want to live. I want to return to my students, to education, and to the work that has defined my life.” However, he said he could not end his hunger strike at the cost of those who had stood alongside the movement.
Referring to the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march held on July 20 during Parliament’s Monsoon Session, Wangchuk described the protest as peaceful while alleging that demonstrators were subjected to disproportionate police action. He urged the government to ensure that no participant would face harassment or criminal cases and appealed for restraint in dealing with peaceful public demonstrations.
Wangchuk further claimed that around 65 Members of Parliament from across party lines had either met him personally or written to him after the ministers’ hospital visit, requesting him to end his fast while assuring him that the concerns raised by students would be taken up in Parliament. According to him, these interactions reflected broad political concern over examination reforms and student welfare, transcending party affiliations.
How The Protest Evolved
The current impasse is the latest chapter in the nationwide agitation triggered by allegations of large-scale irregularities in the NEET-UG 2026 examination. Student groups, parents and education activists have demanded accountability after claims of a paper leak sparked widespread protests and legal challenges. Wangchuk later joined the movement, transforming it into a broader campaign for transparency, institutional accountability and reforms in India’s competitive examination system.
The movement, supported by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and several student organisations, has consistently demanded four broad measures: accountability for examination failures, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, compensation for families of students allegedly driven to suicide following the controversy, and structural reforms to strengthen the integrity of public examinations.
Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike soon emerged as the symbolic centre of the campaign, drawing support from students, educators, civil society groups and opposition leaders across the country.
Notably, Wangchuk’s current position represents an evolution from his earlier demands. While previous appeals had focused primarily on parliamentary discussions, education reforms and direct engagement between lawmakers and student representatives, his latest letter places the safety of protesters above all other concerns.
Although he now claims the Centre has indicated a willingness to consider the Education Minister’s resignation, he insists that his fast will continue unless the government explicitly guarantees that no student or protester will be subjected to legal or retaliatory action after the movement concludes.
As of now, the Union government has not publicly confirmed Wangchuk’s claims regarding assurances on Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation or compensation for affected families. The visit by Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh to the hospital has been reported, but there has been no official statement validating the specific commitments outlined in Wangchuk’s letter. Consequently, the negotiations remain at a delicate stage, with the activist maintaining his hunger strike while awaiting a formal written assurance from the Centre.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The NEET controversy has evolved far beyond questions surrounding a single examination. It now reflects broader concerns about public trust in institutions, the emotional burden placed on students and families, and the importance of ensuring that peaceful democratic participation is protected.
Whether or not the assurances claimed by Sonam Wangchuk are formally acknowledged by the government, the situation underscores the need for transparent communication, institutional accountability and dialogue rather than prolonged confrontation.
Also read: Sonam Wangchuk’s Hunger Strike: 50 Opposition MPs Urge Him to End His Fast
