3 weeks ago
Wangchuk Reveals Wife Sought Rahul Gandhi's Help to End Fast
Sonam Wangchuk is an activist and environmentalist who stopped eating for 26 days to protest.
He wanted a famous leader named Rahul Gandhi to help him end the hunger strike.
His wife, Geetanjali, asked Rahul Gandhi's team for help, but they did not say yes.
So Sonam ended his fast with two government ministers instead, and some people criticized him for that.
Earlier, Geetanjali had said a protest led by Rahul Gandhi seemed insincere, which upset Congress supporters.
Sonam also said the ministers promised not to share photos of their late-night meeting, but the photos came out anyway.
Because of this, he said he has lost trust in those leaders.
Now Sonam is recovering in his village and has gained back six of the eleven kilograms he lost.
He also advised a person fasting in Jharkhand to drink water and eat salt, since a hunger strike should not become an act of suicide.
He believes citizens raising their voices is healthy for a democracy.
Wangchuk revealed his wife Geetanjali Angmo sought Rahul Gandhi's help to end his 26-day hunger strike but received no positive response.
The fast ended in the presence of Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, drawing criticism of the activist.
Angmo had called Rahul Gandhi's July 21 flash protest near PM Narendra Modi's residence 'insincere', drawing backlash from Congress supporters.
Wangchuk alleged Union ministers broke a promise, witnessed by Intelligence Bureau officials, not to release photographs of the midnight meeting that ended the fast.
Recovering in his village, Wangchuk has regained six of the 11 kg lost, urged a fasting Jharkhand protester to take water and salt, and said he is open to supporting education and environment causes.
- Who
- Sonam Wangchuk, his wife Geetanjali Angmo, Rahul Gandhi (Leader of the Opposition), and Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
- What
- Wangchuk revealed that his wife sought Rahul Gandhi's help to end his 26-day hunger strike without a positive response, and alleged Union ministers broke a promise not to release photographs of the midnight meeting that ended it.
- Where
- Wangchuk's protest was held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, the Congress protest took place at Lok Kalyan Marg near PM Narendra Modi's residence, and Wangchuk spoke from his village.
- When
- The revelation came in an India Today interview on August 5, 2026, five days after Wangchuk returned to his village; the July 21 flash protest preceded the end of the 26-day strike.
- Why
- To respond to criticism over breaking his fast in the presence of Union ministers and to clarify his wife's remarks about Congress leadership.
Wangchuk's camp
Criticized leaders and ministers
Ending the fast
Wangchuk's camp
Wangchuk wanted Rahul Gandhi to personally break his hunger strike, and his wife worked to make that happen.
Criticized leaders and ministers
The fast ended in the presence of Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, and Wangchuk faced criticism for breaking it with them.
Sincerity of the Congress protest
Wangchuk's camp
Wangchuk's wife Geetanjali Angmo called Rahul Gandhi's July 21 flash protest near PM Modi's residence 'insincere'.
Criticized leaders and ministers
Rahul Gandhi's side gave no positive response to the request to help end the fast, and Congress supporters called the couple 'Sanghis', 'RSS' and 'BJP stooges'.
Releasing photographs of the meeting
Wangchuk's camp
Wangchuk said there was an understanding, witnessed by senior Intelligence Bureau officials, that no images would be released until he broke the news.
Criticized leaders and ministers
Photographs of the midnight meeting were released despite that understanding, prompting Wangchuk to say he has lost trust in the leaders.
Key facts
- Activist
- Sonam Wangchuk
- Hunger strike duration
- 26 days
- Weight regained
- 6 of 11 kg lost during the strike
- Wife
- Geetanjali Angmo (Gitanjali J Angmo)
- Requested to break fast
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- Fast ended in presence of
- Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh
- Main allegation
- Union ministers broke a promise not to release photographs of the midnight meeting
- Interview outlet
- India Today
Quotes
Sonam Wangchuk
environmental activist and hunger‑striker
“"Actually, we were pondering on breaking my fast through Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Geetanjali was working on that. She was not against Rahul. She was working hard to see if Rahul Gandhi could break my fast. She didn't get a positive response,"”
thestatesman.com
freepressjournal.in
“I am getting better. It’s five days since I got to my village and I am re‑feeding very well. I have gained some six kilos of the 11 (kgs) that I lost and feeling energetic once again.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
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