New Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk has explained why he decided to end his 26-day hunger strike despite not receiving any assurance on Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

He said the decision was based on three written commitments from the Centre, which he described as significant steps towards protecting students and improving accountability in the country’s examination system.

The first was that no legal action or FIRs would be filed against students and young people who peacefully protested at Jantar Mantar or took part in the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march.

Wanchuk said, “Today they have given written assurances. Our students and youth who are peacefully protesting at Jantar Mantar or those who participated in the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march on July 20th, no legal action, FIRs, etc. will be taken against them.

The second was that the families of more than 20 students who died in connection with the paper leak controversy would receive adequate compensation.

The activist added, “Secondly, the children who died in this paper leak accident, more than 20 in number, will be given appropriate compensation; compensation will be provided to their families.”

The third commitment was that Parliament would hold a detailed discussion on examination reforms and accountability to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

“Thirdly, there will be a thorough discussion and debate in Parliament on this issue and on bringing accountability to the government in education and examinations, to ensure that this does not happen again and that there is full accountability for what has happened,” he further said.

Wangchuk said he believed these written assurances were a meaningful outcome of the protest and chose to end his fast to continue the movement in other ways. While he maintained that Dharmendra Pradhan should have resigned, he said securing protection for students, support for affected families and a parliamentary debate on examination reforms was a more immediate priority.

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