‘After 26 Days of Hunger, What More Proof Do I Need?’ Sonam Wangchuk Breaks Silence on Backlash (Video)

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has ended his 26-day fast in support of the protest led by the satirical political group, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and shared a video message on Instagram addressed to both his supporters and critics after the ordeal, which saw him move from the open space in central Delhi's Jantar Mantar to a government hospital. Wangchuk, who is from Ladakh, threw a counter-question after some people asked why he ended his fast. "After 26 days of hunger, do I need to prove my sincerity?" he said, urging people to watch the full 22-minute video on his YouTube channel for the complete context.

Wangchuk On His Health After The Fast

In the video recorded from his hospital bed, a noticeably frail Wangchuk shared the consequences of his long fast and commented on the backlash he has faced. "Friends, I am making this video with a bit of sadness, a bit of surprise, and a mixture of grief and anger," he said. He described the final days of the strike in detail: "Physically fighting, quarreling, carrying out another strike within a strike, lying down on the ground - using whatever strength I had left in me on the 20th or 22nd day, I had to forcefully push my way out." What Did Sonam Wangchuk Say After Ending His 26-Day Hunger Strike?

He said the toll on his body has been severe. "Muscles are gone, and irreversible damage to my organs and brain has reached almost the verge of happening," the activist said, adding that he lost 11 kg during the strike.

Backlash Over Union Ministers Breaking His Fast

On Thursday night, Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh were present as Wangchuk took his first sips of liquid nourishment after weeks, a moment that drew questions online. "Since this morning, many people have been calling me or showing me posts, saying that many questions are being raised against you. Why did you break your fast only through them, through Union Ministers? Why didn't you break it through someone else? What deal has happened, what bargain has happened?" Wangchuk said. Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife Gitanjali Angmo Defends Him After 26-Day Hunger Strike Ends, Urges Critics To ‘Have a Heart’.

Sonam Wangchuk Breaks 26-Day Fast, Says 'Do I Need To Prove My Sincerity' Amid Backlash Over Union Ministers' Role

AFTER 26 DAYS OF HUNGER DO I NEED TO PROVE MY SINCERITY !!!

Do please watch and help spread the word. Find the full 22 minutes video on my YouTube Channel: Sonam Wangchuk pic.twitter.com/6CO3tjZsSD

— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) July 24, 2026

He hit back sharply at the insinuations. "Will I now have to get a character certificate from anyone regarding how pure my fast was?" he asked, dismissing claims of any backdoor political bargaining and pointing to what he called the absurdity of enduring nearly a month of starvation just to strike a deal with the government. "If a bargain had to be made, if a deal had to be made, would someone have to stay hungry for 26 days? You must have seen how many others have made deals - do they make deals like this? Could I not have sat in a luxurious air-conditioned room to strike a deal or bargain, rather than having to make a deal by sitting outside on the roadside in Delhi's heat?" he said. Wangchuk also thanked the thousands of supporters who stood by him through the fast.

CJP Says Protest Will Continue, Demands Pradhan's Resignation

Though Wangchuk has ended his fast, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka told NDTV at their protest site in central Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Friday that nothing less than the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will be acceptable, even as the government has announced steps on several fronts to stop paper leaks. Ranka extended his support for Wangchuk's decision to end the strike. "His health had been deteriorating quite a bit for the last four-five days. We had been continuously requesting him to actually end his hunger strike. He continued his strike till he got some submissions and some negotiations done with the government, which is absolutely great. His negotiations were on his hunger strike, and we really are happy that his hunger strike has ended and our fight, this protest, continues. I think there's absolutely no contradiction in these two things," Ranka said.

The Centre has approved legal reforms and fast-track courts to try paper leak cases. Ranka said the measures are welcome but do not address the root cause of the crisis.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2026 07:14 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).