Indian activist pledges to break his fast if government promises it won’t punish protesters
“I am still alive. This is the 25th day of my hunger strike,” Indian social activist Sonam Wangchuk said from his hospital bed amid an ongoing student-led protest.
The Cockroach Janta Party movement gained momentum from renowned Indian climate activist, Sonam Wangchuk, who began his hunger strike on 28 June, but was forcibly moved to a hospital by police on Saturday.
Indian police responded with violence as thousands of protesters tried to march to parliament to demand the education minister’s resignation on Monday.
Two ministers from Modi’s government met Wangchuk on Tuesday night and urged him to end his fast.
Wangchuk pledged to end his hunger strike, but on the condition that police would not use force on student protesters.
“And, if I get this assurance soon, then respecting you and the other politicians who came here, I will break my fast today and discontinue my hunger strike.”
India’s health minister, JP Nadda, told media in the capital New Delhi that “we are ready to discuss everything related to the paper leak on the forum of the parliament”.
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