Sonam Wangchuk says govt broke promise over hunger strike photos, rejects ‘midnight deal’ claims

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has alleged that the government broke a commitment over the release of photographs showing him ending his 26-day hunger strike, while rejecting claims that he reached a “midnight deal” with the Centre.

Speaking to India Today, Wangchuk said there was an understanding that images from his late-night meeting with Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh would not be released until Opposition leaders and student representatives were also part of the announcement.

“The ministers had got their own photographers. They pledged to me, they wouldn't release it. They broke the promise,” Wangchuk said.

According to the activist, he wanted the conclusion of his hunger strike to be presented as a joint effort involving leaders across political parties rather than as an event associated only with the ruling party.

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Wangchuk said he had suggested that photographs of Opposition leaders and student representatives should also be included before any announcement was made public. He claimed that Union ministers agreed to the arrangement, with Intelligence Bureau officials present during the meeting acting as witnesses.

However, Wangchuk alleged that the understanding was violated shortly after the meeting.

“I was waiting to collect photographs of leaders from other parties. Within five minutes, a senior IB officer came huffing and puffing and said, 'Sir, I don't know how, but these images are already running on television channels,” he said.

Wangchuk denies reaching agreement with government

The activist also dismissed allegations that he ended his fast after reaching a private agreement with the government.

Wangchuk said that if he had wanted to negotiate a personal deal, he would not have continued with a 26-day hunger strike.

“I could have done that deal much earlier. I need not have sat on a 26-day hunger strike,” he said.

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He added that the episode had affected his trust in political leaders across parties.

Wangchuk began his hunger strike on June 28 at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar as part of the protest led by Abhijeet Dipke’s Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over the NEET issue.

After his health condition worsened, he was shifted to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on July 18. The move led to protests from students who alleged that he had been taken away against his wishes.

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Following a court petition filed by his wife Gitanjali J Angmo seeking his transfer to a private hospital, Wangchuk was later shifted to Medanta Hospital, where he met Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh.

He ended his 26-day hunger strike late on July 24 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a video message on measures against paper leaks and fast-track action. Photographs of the ministers offering him soup during the end of his fast later emerged, leading to further discussion over the meeting.