I am still alive: Sonam Wangchuk's first video message from Gurugram hospital

Activist Sonam Wangchuk released a video message from Gurugram's Medanta Hospital on the 25th day of his fast, saying he was prepared to end it if the government guaranteed that students who took part in Monday's march would not face police action, arrests or harassment.

In Short

• Sonam Wangchuk is on 25th day of fast at Gurugram's Medanta Hospital
• Seeks assurance from government before agreeing to call off hunger strike
• Praises students for restraint despite facing lathicharge from cops during protest

"I am still alive," activist Sonam Wangchuk said in a video message from Gurugram's Medanta Hospital on the 25th day of his fast, reiterating that he would end it if the government assures no police action, arrests or harassment of students who joined Monday's 'Chalo Sansad' march.

Posting a three-minute video from his hospital bed, Wangchuk began saying, "Abhi bhi zinda hoon" (I am still alive). He said he had lost around 11 kg and considerable muscle mass during the fast but was "doing fine". He said he was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday night for medical observation.

Wangchuk praised the students who participated in the 'Chalo Sansad' march, saying their restraint despite facing a lathicharge had deeply moved him and strengthened his resolve to continue his hunger strike.

"I want to salute all the students who conducted themselves with remarkable restraint. Despite being lathi-charged, they did not retaliate. Seeing the brutal action against them, I decided to continue my hunger strike," he said.

Wangchuk, however, reiterated that he was willing to end his fast if the government assured that no student protester would face police action, FIRs, arrests or harassment for participating in the movement.

"Many leaders, including ministers from the ruling party, have appealed to me to end my fast. I want to do that too because my work is important to me. But I request the government not to use force against students and to assure that no allegations, FIRs or legal action will be used to target them. If I receive that assurance soon, I will end my hunger strike today itself. If not, I will unfortunately have to continue," he said.

Earlier in the evening, Wangchuk also released a letter addressed to Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, thanking them for visiting him at the hospital and urging him to end the fast. He said he wanted to resume his work but could not do so unless the government assured that students and protesters would not face any retaliatory action.

Seeking safeguards for protesters, Wangchuk wrote that none of the young participants should face punitive or retaliatory legal action for joining the movement. "Their only 'offence' has been to raise their voice for a fair and accountable education system," he said.

He said around 65 MPs from different parties had written to him or met him personally, urging him to end his fast. He has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining the CJP-led agitation demanding accountability for alleged examination irregularities, reforms in the education system and Pradhan's resignation.

Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 after joining the Cockroach Janta Party-led agitation demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

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