Sonam Wangchuk, known as the “cockroach” activist, concluded a 26‑day hunger strike that sparked a wave of youth‑led demonstrations against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government.
Supporters have called a nationwide day of protest for Friday.
Wangchuk ended the protest in Delhi alongside two senior ministers, after the government pledged to meet his demands.
In a video from his hospital bed, he said authorities promised to raise accountability issues in the examination system before parliament and to compensate families of students who died after exam leaks.
The government also assured that no legal action would be taken against youths arrested during Monday’s rally in Delhi.
After 26 days without food, Wangchuk appeared frail but resolute; hunger strikes have a long history in Indian activism, notably used by Mahatma Gandhi, whose longest fast lasted 21 days.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged Wangchuk to heed medical advice and regain lost weight.
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has mobilised large‑scale protests demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a core demand.
CJP organisers reported strong turnouts in major cities including Bengaluru, Ranchi, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata, and noted arrests in Mumbai.
Abhijeet Dipke, CJP’s founder, thanked Wangchuk for his sacrifice and reiterated the call for Pradhan’s resignation.
The protests, affecting two million students, stem from exam paper leaks in May that have been linked to multiple student suicides.
Education Minister Pradhan responded on Tuesday, stating the government’s commitment to exam reforms.
The demonstrations, involving tens of thousands, represent the largest youth challenge to Modi since 2014, prompting opposition parties to echo the demands and disrupt the monsoon session of parliament.
Thousands continued to gather at Jantar Mantar on Thursday, displaying anti‑government banners and chanting slogans despite heavy security presence.
Delhi authorities closed 16 metro stations and ordered telecom providers to block mobile internet, affecting both demonstrators and nearby businesses.
Human‑rights groups decried the measures as an attempt to suppress dissent and prevent further unrest.
On Thursday, Modi announced the creation of special courts to prosecute those responsible for exam leaks, stating that youth welfare is paramount.
CJP rejected the proposal, arguing that judicial action alone cannot address systemic issues, and pressed for deeper reforms.
Later, Modi indicated that additional punitive steps would be announced at a cabinet meeting on Friday.
Following criticism for remaining silent, several prominent Bollywood actors, including Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor, shared a post supporting the students’ activism.
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