Archive · 20 Jul 2026
Sonam Wangchuk's Hunger Strike Echoes 1984 Protest
Sonam Wangchuk, a climate activist, is on a hunger strike in Delhi to protest about exam problems and ask for the education minister to step down.
This reminds people of his father, Sonam Wangyal, who also went on a hunger strike in 1984.
Back then, the Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, went to meet him in Ladakh and promised to help.
Because of that, Ladakh's communities got special status in 1989.
Now, some people are comparing how the government is handling Sonam Wangchuk's protest differently.
The Congress party thinks the government should talk to him like Indira Gandhi did, but the government has not done that yet.
Instead, they took him to the hospital.
Sonam Wangchuk wants people to join a big march to Parliament to support his cause.
Sonam Wangchuk is on an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi, protesting examination irregularities and demanding the Union education minister's resignation.
His father, Sonam Wangyal, went on a hunger strike in 1984, demanding Scheduled Tribe status for Ladakh's communities, which was granted in 1989 after Indira Gandhi intervened.
Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Pawan Khera, have drawn parallels between the 1984 protest and Wangchuk's current strike, urging the government to engage directly with protesters.
The current government has shifted Wangchuk to a hospital for health reasons, without direct engagement or immediate concessions.
Wangchuk's protest is part of the Cockroach Janta Party's agitation, which entered its 28th day on Friday.
- Who
- Sonam Wangchuk, climate activist and son of late Ladakh leader Sonam Wangyal.
- What
- Sonam Wangchuk is on an indefinite hunger strike, drawing parallels to his father's 1984 protest for Scheduled Tribe status in Ladakh.
- When
- Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike began on June 28, 2024. His father's hunger strike was in 1984.
- Where
- Sonam Wangchuk's protest is at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. His father's protest was in Leh, Ladakh.
- Why
- Sonam Wangchuk is protesting alleged examination irregularities and demanding the resignation of the Union education minister. His father protested for Scheduled Tribe status for Ladakh's communities.
Congress Party
Current Government
Government Response to Protests
Congress Party
Congress leaders argue that the current government should follow the example set by Indira Gandhi in 1984 and engage directly with protesters, especially those on hunger strikes, to address their demands peacefully.
Current Government
The current government's response to Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike has been to shift him to a hospital for health reasons, without direct engagement or immediate concessions.
- Sonam Wangyal
- Late Ladakh leader and former minister in Jammu and Kashmir government.
- Sonam Wangchuk
- Climate activist and son of Sonam Wangyal.
- Hunger Strike
- Sonam Wangchuk's indefinite hunger strike began on June 28, 2024.
- Scheduled Tribe Status
- Granted to Ladakh's communities in 1989 after a hunger strike by Sonam Wangyal in 1984.
- Indira Gandhi's Visit
- Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi traveled to Leh in 1984 to meet Sonam Wangyal and address his demands.
- Cockroach Janta Party
- Political party leading protests over examination irregularities and demanding the resignation of the Union education minister.
- Sonia Gandhi's Stance
- Sonia Gandhi referenced Indira Gandhi's 1984 actions, suggesting the current government should engage with protesters similarly.
- Pawan Khera's Visit
- Congress leader Pawan Khera visited Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, supporting his right to peaceful protest.