Wangchuk ends fast as India exam protests continue

Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended a 26-day hunger strike that became a rallying point for a widening youth-led protest movement over alleged leaks in national entrance exams, but protest leaders said demonstrations would continue until their demands are met.

Wangchuk ended the fast on Friday in the presence of two federal ministers, after what he described on X as appeals from dozens of members of parliament and “a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country.” He did not give details of the negotiations.

Hours later, leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, or CJP, began talks with two senior government ministers in New Delhi, Al Jazeera reported. The self-named group, which began as online satire and has led the student protests, said it would not call off nationwide demonstrations during the talks.

“We hope that the government comes with an open mind and it will listen to the people of this country who have been out on the roads for so long,” CJP spokesperson Saurav Das told reporters in New Delhi late Thursday. “We will explain our demands to them in greater detail. And we hope that the government will listen to us.”

A senior Indian government minister said Thursday that the government was always open to talks for however long it would take and would not “stand on prestige,” according to Al Jazeera.

The protests began more than a month ago after alleged leaks in some of India’s most competitive entrance exams. They grew after the cancellation of a national medical college entrance test in May following a leaked question paper, affecting about two million students, Al Jazeera reported. The movement has since drawn students, professionals, families and activists into demonstrations in New Delhi and other cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Patna.

Protest organizers say the demonstrations will continue until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. The CJP has listed three demands: Pradhan’s resignation, an assurance that criminal cases will not be pursued against protesters, and compensation of about $105,000 for the families of students who died by suicide because of exam paper leaks and cancellations.

“We won’t let Sonam sir’s sacrifice go in vain,” said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, which took its name from a remark by India’s Supreme Court chief justice comparing some unemployed young people to cockroaches.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly addressed the protests for the first time on Thursday, announcing fast-track courts to prosecute cases involving examination paper leaks. In a separate video message, Modi said his government would introduce legislation in Parliament to crack down on exam paper leaks. Al Jazeera reported that the federal cabinet was expected to discuss a draft amendment on Friday and seek parliamentary approval as soon as possible.

Protesters rejected the proposals, saying they did not address government accountability, broader examination reforms or compensation for families. “We are not backing out,” Das said. “Because real awakening starts from the grassroots and that is what we really need.”

Police have tried to block marches toward Parliament. On Monday, officers used tear gas and batons against thousands of demonstrators. Al Jazeera reported that tens of thousands of supporters marched that day, and that violence was reported again Wednesday night when more than 10,000 people gathered at a central Delhi protest site.

Authorities in New Delhi have also shut metro stations and mobile internet services in central areas where protesters have gathered. The Delhi Metro Rail Corp said it would close 17 stations from early Friday until further notice, Al Jazeera reported.

Vakil Yadav, a protester in New Delhi, told Al Jazeera he would keep demonstrating despite fractures to his hand during a police crackdown this week. “There was nobody to stand with the students, speak out for them and raise their issue. Today we have that opportunity. So people from all across India are here,” he said.

Another protester, Sudesh Singh, told Reuters: “We will continue to protest till [Education Minister] Dharmendra Pradhan is terminated. He should not be given another position. If we stop here, then we will compromise the future of our children.”