# Sonam Wangchuk says government broke promise on hunger-strike photos

2026-08-06T06:22:17+00:00 | India | Indian Opinion Desk

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has alleged that the government broke a promise by releasing photographs of him ending his 26-day hunger strike before representatives of other parties and student leaders were included, DNAIndia reported, citing an interview Wangchuk gave to India Today. Wangchuk said Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh had agreed, with Intelligence Bureau officials present as witnesses, that no images from their late-night meeting would be released until leaders from other parties and student groups joined the announcement, so it would not look like a purely ruling-party event. He said the images were broadcast on television within minutes regardless. Wangchuk rejected suggestions that he had struck a political deal, saying he had no interest in bargaining and could have negotiated far bigger terms, including being made education minister, had he wanted to, but said the episode had left him distrustful of political leaders across party lines. He ended his fast on 24 July after a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on anti-paper leak measures.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

Wangchuk's account is detailed and directly quoted, which makes it a stronger single-source claim than a bare allegation, though it still comes from one side of the meeting and has not been put to Nadda, Jitendra Singh or the Intelligence Bureau officials named as witnesses. Whether those officials, or the ministries involved, confirm or dispute his account of the agreement would settle what was promised that night.

## Coverage

- DNAIndia <https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-sonam-wangchuk-accuses-union-ministers-of-breaching-trust-details-here-3217908>

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