Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday took a swipe at the government over the manner in which Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike following written assurances on the NEET controversy and wider education reforms.
Sharing a photograph from the hospital, Moitra questioned the “optics” of a senior government representative personally offering a cup to Wangchuk as he broke his fast.
“Todna hi thaa toh kisi aur ke haath se tod leteh sir … optics naam ki bhi kuch hoti hai… :-)” she wrote on X.
Todna hi thaa toh kisi aur ke haath se tod leteh sir … optics naam ki bhi kuch hoti hai… 🙂 pic.twitter.com/v5dvZS9RaS
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 24, 2026
Loosely translated, Moitra said that even if the fast had to be broken, it could have been done by someone else, adding that political optics also mattered.
The photograph accompanying her post shows the hospitalised activist being offered a cup during the visit by government representatives. Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh had met Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital before he called off his protest.
In a separate post on X, Moitra appealed directly to Wangchuk, urging him not to let the movement lose momentum after ending his fast.
“Dear @Wangchuk66 we respect you. But suggestion for protestors to go around the country & present PM ji with a report will not fly. Please do not fall into govt’s trap & dilute the moral high ground you achieved in 26 days. Movement is far beyond that,” she posted.
Dear @Wangchuk66 we respect you. But suggestion for protestors to go around the country & present PM ji with a report will not fly. Please do not fall into govt’s trap & dilute the moral high ground you achieved in 26 days. Movement is far beyond that.
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) July 24, 2026
Wangchuk ended fast after written assurances
Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, said the activist ended his indefinite hunger strike only after receiving written confirmation from the government on key demands.
According to Angmo, the assurances included no FIRs against peaceful student protesters, compensation for families affected by the NEET controversy and a parliamentary discussion on systemic education reforms.
“At midnight, we got written confirmation from govt of acceptance of our demand for no FIR against student protestors, compensation for NEET victims and discussion on educational reforms in Parliament,” she told reporters.
She said Nadda and Jitendra Singh had visited Wangchuk, while 65 Opposition MPs had also given written assurances that the issue would be raised in Parliament.
Angmo described the conclusion of the fast as a success for the movement, saying the examination controversy had exposed deeper problems in the education system.
“NEET paper leak was the symptom, but the causes are present in the system,” she said.
Wangchuk is expected to gradually move to a semi-solid diet following the prolonged fast.
CJP says protest will continue
The Cockroach Janta Party, however, has said its agitation will continue despite Wangchuk ending his hunger strike.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the party would not withdraw the protest until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned.
“Our protest will continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. We are very happy and relieved that Sonam sir has ended his hunger strike, as it had been over 26 days. His life is extremely precious to this country,” Dipke said.
CJP representatives Ashutosh Ranka and Deepak Balyan also rejected the government’s announcements on fast-track courts as insufficient, maintaining that political accountability remained the central demand of the agitation.