3 weeks ago
Sonam Wangchuk says Rahul Gandhi refused to break his fast
There was a big problem in India when students who took a medical exam called NEET were very upset about a paper leak.
A man named Sonam Wangchuk, who helps build schools and cares about the environment, decided to help the students.
He sat at a place called Jantar Mantar and stopped eating food for 26 days to ask leaders to fix the problem.
He asked a famous leader named Rahul Gandhi to come and help him end his fast.
Sonam's wife also asked Rahul Gandhi for help, but they did not get a good answer.
In the end, Sonam stopped his fast at a hospital, with two government ministers next to him.
While that was happening, Rahul Gandhi held his own protest near the Prime Minister's house.
Some people think Rahul Gandhi should have helped Sonam end the fast together.
Others think Rahul Gandhi wanted to run his own protest to get more attention.
The whole story is about how leaders decide to work together or do their own thing during a protest.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said he wanted Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi to personally end his 26-day hunger strike over the NEET paper leak issue.
Wangchuk said his wife Geetanjali Angmo pursued Rahul Gandhi to break his fast but received no positive response.
Wangchuk ended his hunger strike on 24 July 2026 at Medanta Hospital in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
The hunger strike, which began on 28 June 2026, sought the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for students who allegedly committed suicide over the NEET paper leak.
On 20 July, Congress and Rahul Gandhi staged a parallel protest outside PM Narendra Modi's residence while the CJP held its announced 'Chalo Sansad' march to Parliament.
- Who
- Sonam Wangchuk, a Ladakh-based climate activist and education reformer, his wife Geetanjali Angmo, Rahul Gandhi (Leader of the Opposition), Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
- What
- Wangchuk revealed that he wanted Rahul Gandhi to break his hunger strike, but Gandhi gave no positive response and instead Congress staged a parallel protest.
- Where
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi; Medanta Hospital; and outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence.
- When
- The hunger strike began on 28 June 2026 and ended on 24 July 2026.
- Why
- To press demands including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for students who allegedly committed suicide over the NEET paper leak.
Congress Supporters' View
Critics of Congress' Approach
Rahul Gandhi declining to break the fast
Congress Supporters' View
Congress supporters say Gandhi waited for the Parliament's Monsoon Session to begin so he could press the same demands, including Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, from Congress's own platform.
Critics of Congress' Approach
Wangchuk says he and his wife wanted Gandhi to personally end the fast as a joint, cross-party gesture, and that Gandhi's non-response showed an unwillingness to share credit or play a supporting role.
Parallel protest on 20 July
Congress Supporters' View
Congress says its protest near PM Modi's residence was timed to the Parliament session to escalate demands for Pradhan's resignation.
Critics of Congress' Approach
Critics say Congress deliberately waited for the CJP protest to peak and then hijacked its political momentum rather than joining or visibly amplifying it.
Trolling of Geetanjali Angmo
Congress Supporters' View
Congress supporters criticized Geetanjali Angmo after she attacked the Congress leadership.
Critics of Congress' Approach
Wangchuk says the trolling was unfair because Angmo had worked hard, without success, to get Rahul Gandhi on board to end his fast.
Key facts
- Hunger strike start
- 28 June 2026
- Hunger strike end
- 24 July 2026
- Hunger strike duration
- 26 days
- Locations
- Jantar Mantar, New Delhi; ended at Medanta Hospital
- Key demands
- Resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan; compensation for students over the NEET paper leak
- Ministers present at fast's end
- JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh
- Congress outreach program
- Chhatron Ki Goonj
- Parallel protest
- Outside PM Modi's residence on 20 July 2026, during the CJP's 'Chalo Sansad' march
Quotes
Sonam Wangchuk
Climate activist and education reformer
“Actually, we were pondering on breaking my fast through the 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.”
opindia.com










