Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike on Friday, but nationwide protests demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are set to continue.
The demonstrations, led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, were sparked by the leak of medical school entrance examination papers that allegedly allowed widespread cheating and affected around two million students in May.
Protesters also claim the scandal has been linked to several student suicides and are calling for greater accountability within the education system.
In a post on X, Wangchuk said he ended his fast after discussions with two federal ministers and following requests from several members of parliament.
He said the decision came after “long negotiations” and concerns that the protests could lead to violence, adding that he would reveal further details in a video message.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Wangchuk for his “courage and sacrifice” but vowed the movement would continue until Pradhan steps down.
“We won’t let Sonam sir’s sacrifice go in vain,” Dipke said.
Earlier this week, Pradhan said the government was committed to addressing concerns over the examination system and implementing reforms.
The protests have become the largest youth-led challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government since he took office in 2014.
Opposition parties have backed the protesters’ demands and disrupted the current parliamentary session over the issue.
After Wangchuk ended his fast, Modi wished him a speedy recovery and urged him to follow medical advice and regain the weight he had lost.
Thousands of protesters have gathered in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar area, while demonstrations have spread to several cities, including Ranchi, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram and Kolkata.
Authorities have tightened security by closing multiple metro stations, restricting mobile internet access and ordering businesses in central Delhi to shut early.
Human rights groups have criticised the restrictions, describing them as attempts to suppress peaceful protests.
Police said some demonstrators threw stones and plastic bottles during clashes on Wednesday night, injuring several officers, while officers used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds during a march towards Parliament earlier in the week.
Modi has proposed setting up special courts to fast-track prosecutions related to examination paper leaks and pledged stricter measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
However, protest organisers rejected the proposal, arguing that the government should focus on preventing exam leaks rather than only prosecuting offenders after the damage has been done.
The movement has also gained support from several Bollywood celebrities, including Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor, who voiced solidarity with students on social media.
What began as a small online satirical campaign has evolved into a nationwide protest movement, reflecting growing frustration among young Indians over exam integrity, employment opportunities and government accountability.
