India: Wangchuk ends hunger strike, clears way for government-CJP talks

Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike 'in view of possible violence in the country, paving way for dialogue between Modi's government and Cockroach party leaders. Meanwhile, protests continue. Follow DW Even as talks have been scheduled, protesters say they will continue demonstrations till the education minister resigns Photo/ What you need to know What you need to know Activist Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strike after 26 days Indian government to hold talks with Cockroach party leaders at 12:30 p.m. IST (0700 GMT) Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeals to protesting students in midnight video Security tightens in central Delhi, metro stations and internet shut again Here's a roundup for the biggest headlines from India on Friday, July 24: Tired of missing our real-time updates?

Click here to add us as a Preferred Source on Google. Then tap the "Star" or "Preferred" to keep DW News at the top of your feed. Even as the Indian government and protest organizers are scheduled to meet for dialogue, authorities are tightening security in central Delhi which is home to both the Indian parliament, and the youth protest site.

The New Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced that 17 metro station around the are would be closed on Friday morning until further notice. Not just students and protesters, but also office goers rely on the speedy Delhi metro for their daily commute. The thousands who have reached the protest site are being heavily monitored. News outlet Indian Express reported that Delhi police were using two highly-equipped surveillance vans to keep a 360-degree eye on the protest site and protesters.

As per the report, a senior Delhi police officer said they were using live facial recognition to identify any known criminals. Fearing unwarranted action, several protesters have been covering their faces with regular and sometimes superhero masks. The protests are not limited to the streets: inside the Indian parliament, opposition parties continue to protest against the NEET paper leak issue for the fifth day.

Both the upper and lower houses of parliament have been adjourned till noon over the disruption. Yesterday, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) leaders said they were willing to discuss the issue in parliament. However, opposition leaders demand that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan be sacked before any discussion takes place. Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his weeks-long hunger strike on the assurance that the government would discuss the paper leaks issue on the parliament floor.

Here are some of the main demands made by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP): While the Cockroack Janta Party has also spoken of demands around educational reforms and how paper leaks are handles, the above three are their core demands which are sure to be presented to India's union ministers. Sonam Wangchuk has ended his hunger strike after 26 days, the Indian activist said Thursday on his X account. The 59-year-old had been on a hunger strike since June 28 in solidarity with India's youth-led "cockroach" movement.

"Just now in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh and the senior leaders of Apex Body of Leh Ladakh I finally broke my fast after 26 days, Wangchuk wrote. In another post from the Hospital on Friday morning, Wangchuk wrote that he ended his fast after "getting assurance from the government and members of parliament of all political parties that the issue of accountability in the failing examination system will be discussed on the floors of the Indian Parliament." He was told that families of students who committed suicide after the national medical entrance exam paper was leaked will be given adequate compensation. He was also assured that "there will be no cases registered against the peacefully protesting students and youths, Wangchuk worte.

India's youth-led Cockraoch Janta Party (CJP) leaders will meet with a few ministers from the Indian government on Friday in an attempt to resolve the political face-off on the streets of the nation over national examinations paper leaks. CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke and two of his appointed spokespersons are likely to attend this meeting scheduled at the Constitution Club for 12:30 p.m. IST (0700 GMT). The club is about 2.4 kilometers (1.4 miles) from the historical protest site of Jantar Mantar where hundreds of students and CJP supporters have been demontrating for more than a month now. India's Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda had earlier offered to hold talks with the CJP at his residence or office.