Social activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday strongly denied allegations that he had struck a "deal" with the government to end his 26-day indefinite hunger strike, questioning why his sincerity was still being doubted after nearly a month of fasting.
In a video message shared on social media, Wangchuk said his decision to end the fast should not be interpreted through the lens of political speculation, expressing disappointment over claims that he had compromised with the government.
"After 26 days of hunger, do I still need to prove my sincerity!!!" Wangchuk wrote while sharing the video on X. He also urged people to watch the full 22-minute video on his YouTube channel before drawing conclusions and appealed to them to help spread his message.
Wangchuk's response to critics
Without naming anyone, Sonam Wangchuk hit back at those alleging that he had struck a deal with the Centre, saying such claims overlooked the personal sacrifices he made during his 26-day hunger strike.
His remarks came amid criticism on social media after he ended the indefinite fast on Thursday, stating that the government had responded positively to several of his key demands.
Earlier in the day, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, appealed to the public not to judge his decision hastily, saying the activist had made immense physical sacrifices for a cause greater than himself.
In an emotional post on X, Angmo revealed that Wangchuk had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) 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 called off his hunger strike late on Thursday after Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh conveyed the Centre's assurances on several demands raised during the protest.
According to Wangchuk, the government assured that it was positively considering refraining from legal action against peaceful protesters, facilitating a discussion in Parliament on examination reforms, and providing compensation to the families of students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy.
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