PM reaches out to students; Sonam Wangchuk ends fast

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was on a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET irregularities, ended his fast late on Thursday (July 24, 2026) night.

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The move came even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a late-night video message posted on his X and Instagram accounts, promised that the government would discuss NEET paper leaks in Friday’s (July 24) Cabinet meeting and would bring a Bill in Parliament next week. “More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet [meeting],” Mr. Modi said in his post.

Mr. Wangchuk broke his fast in the presence of two Union Ministers, said Cherring Dorjay Lakruk, co-convener, Leh Apex Body.

He broke the fast on certain conditions, with the government giving written assurance that cases against students would be taken back if they were not violent, said Mr. Dorjay. The government also said that it would consider compensation for families of suicide victims, he said. The developments came shortly after the Centre shifted Higher Education Secretary Vineet Joshi to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. Meanwhile, government sources told The Hindu that CJP leaders may meet Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh on Friday. A response from the CJP on the meeting was awaited.

The CJP had earlier asked the Ministers to meet the delegation at Jantar Mantar or any other neutral venue.

Among the changes in the Education Department, Naresh Pal Gangwar, who was serving as the secretary in the Ministry of Animal Husbandry, has now been appointed Higher Education Secretary. T.K. Anil Kumar, an additional secretary in the Ministry of Rural Development, has been brought in as the School Education Secretary, another post which was held by Mr. Joshi.

Earlier in the day, in his first outreach to the protesters three days after the CJP-led march to Parliament, Mr. Modi announced the setting up of fast-track courts to swiftly handle cases of paper leaks. He said the welfare of the youth was the top priority of his government and asserted that anyone trying to harm their future will not be spared. But the CJP said the proposal did not address the issue of accountability or the resignation of Mr. Pradhan.

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement, the Delhi High Court notified a designated court to deal with criminal cases arising from paper leaks as well as the use of other unfair means in public examinations. The special court will function from the Rouse Avenue Court Complex.

Earlier on Thursday, Mr. Singh said that the Centre had approached the CJP for talks four times in the past 24 hours. He said a meeting can be held either at Mr. Nadda’s official residence or office, adding that Mr. Modi was “sensitive” to the issue of the paper leak and that “the government was not sitting on prestige”.

While the CJP refused to engage with the government, inside Parliament the Opposition stepped up its attack. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of destroying the education system and using force against students. “You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system – and protected every person responsible for it,” Mr. Gandhi wrote on X. Mr. Kharge asked the government to “(c)ome out of your air-conditioned ivory towers and look into the eyes of the young men and women who bled on the streets.”

Government sources said that as of now, all cases of paper leaks under the NTA will be dealt with under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024. “Centre will soon be asking States and respective high courts to set up fast-track courts to deal with cases,” the sources said. The Jantar Mantar protest site remained under a heavy security cover, and traffic was disrupted in parts of central Delhi for the second consecutive day. 17 metro stations in Delhi remained shut on Thursday, and mobile Internet was suspended in parts of central Delhi till midnight within a 1.5-km radius of Jantar Mantar. The CJP has also called for a nationwide agitation on Friday (July 24), asking its supporters to protest in every district.

(With inputs from PTI)