Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike late on Thursday night in New Delhi, breaking his fast in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh after the Centre gave assurances on key demands of the students' agitation over exam irregularities. While leaders across the political spectrum welcomed the development, several opposition figures were quick to stress that the movement had grown well beyond any single individual.

Opposition: The Movement Is Larger Than One Person

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha said: 'When a movement reaches this stage, it is not restricted to any one person or outfit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be able to deal with the emotions of lakhs of people.' His remarks captured a broader sentiment among opposition ranks — that the student agitation has acquired a life of its own, independent of Wangchuk's personal role in it.

Communist Party of India MP P. Santhosh Kumar was more pointed, declaring: 'Whether Sonam Wangchuk continues his hunger strike or not is not the main issue. The students have only one demand: Dharmendra Pradhan should resign or PM Modi should sack him. It is the demand of the entire nation, whether inside or outside the Parliament.' His statement signals that, for a section of the opposition, the end of the fast does not close the political chapter.

Samajwadi Party's Ideological Caveat

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav, speaking outside Parliament House, distanced his party from the method of hunger strikes as a form of protest — invoking the legacy of socialist icon Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia. He recalled Lohia's position: 'If the demand is not met, then die but do not get up. I can allow you on this condition.' The remarks were a philosophical aside rather than a criticism of Wangchuk personally, reflecting the SP's longstanding ideological stance on the efficacy of fasts.

JMM Highlights Cross-Party Appeal, Alleges Hospital Access Denied

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Mahua Maji noted that more than 50 MPs had signed an appeal urging Wangchuk to end his fast. 'The country needs activists like him who selflessly stand with the students and people in general. The organs of such a person were getting affected,' she said. Maji also alleged that opposition MPs were denied entry to the hospital where Wangchuk was being monitored, and that the letter from MPs had to be handed over to his wife. 'We are happy that he has broken his fast,' she added.

Ruling NDA Backs Wangchuk's Decision

Leaders from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) also welcomed the development. Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Vice-President Subhash Sharma said: 'We welcome his decision to end the hunger strike and his expression of faith in the Union government. The government is fully committed to resolving the issue, and I believe a solution will be found soon.' He added that addressing the 'menace of paper leaks from the root' was the real challenge, and that work was already under way in that direction.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad described Wangchuk as 'an educated and wise person,' saying: 'He met J.P. Nadda, and given that people's demands are heard in a democratic system, especially when they are genuine, his demands were also heard.' Notably, the Centre's assurances have not yet been made public in full detail, and student groups are expected to assess whether the commitments are sufficient before calling off wider protests.