Social activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday strongly rejected allegations that he had struck a "deal" with the government to end his 26-day indefinite hunger strike, asking critics whether he still needed to "prove" his sincerity after nearly a month of fasting for justice against NEET-UG paper leak and other exam irregularities.
In a video message shared on social media, Wangchuk expressed disappointment over claims that he had compromised with the government, saying his decision to end the fast should not be viewed through the lens of political speculation.
"After 26 days of hunger, do I still need to prove my sincerity!!!" Wangchuk wrote while sharing the video on X. He urged people to watch the full 22-minute video available on his YouTube channel before drawing conclusions and help spread his message.
Without naming anyone, Wangchuk took aim at those alleging that he had reached a deal with the Centre, saying such accusations ignored the personal cost of his protest.
His remarks came amid criticism on social media after he called off his 26-day hunger strike on Thursday, saying the government had responded positively to his key demands.
Earlier in the day, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, had appealed to the public not to rush to judge his decision, saying the activist had made immense physical sacrifices for a cause larger than himself.
In an emotional post on X, Angmo revealed that Wangchuk was admitted to the intensive care unit after losing 11 kg, including muscle mass, during the 26-day fast. "Before you rush to criticise @Wangchuk66, first pause to earn the ethos of fasting for 26 days for a cause larger than yourself," she wrote.
"He lies in the ICU today... The least we can offer him is a day of compassion before burdening him with our own expectations and political calculations." She added that not everyone was qualified to judge "a life of selfless service" and urged people to "have a heart".
Wangchuk ended his hunger strike late on Thursday after Union ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh conveyed the government's assurances on several demands raised during the protest.
According to the activist, the government assured that it was positively considering not initiating legal action against peaceful protesters, would facilitate discussions in Parliament on examination reforms, and was also positively considering compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy.
Wangchuk is currently recovering at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.
