Washington activists back Sonam Wangchuk, seek action on exam row

Washington,UPDATED: Jul 18, 2026 10:58 IST

Activists from two US-based advocacy groups gathered in Washington on Friday evening to express solidarity with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike in New Delhi since June 28 over alleged irregularities in the examination system, including NEET. The protesters also demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Members of Hindus for Human Rights and the Azadi Project assembled at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the Indian Embassy, carrying placards in support of Wangchuk and raising slogans against the Indian government. Their protest followed a public appeal by Hindus for Human Rights to the Indian government to engage with Wangchuk and other protesters on hunger strike.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week, Hindus for Human Rights said, "The government must meet with the protesters, provide a substantive response to the examination and governance failures they have identified, and establish a credible, time-bound process for accountability."

Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director of Hindus for Human Rights, said in a statement, "The government must meet the protesters now, answer the failures that brought them here, and act before indifference takes a life." The group also appealed to Wangchuk and the fasting students to make their health and lives a priority.

It said, "Their concerns have been heard by people across India and around the world. They should not be required to sacrifice their health to demonstrate the seriousness of their demands." The Washington protest brought together support for Wangchuk's hunger strike, calls for accountability over the alleged examination irregularities, and an appeal for urgent engagement with the protesters.

With PTI Inputs

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