'Everyone gone, now no hope': Sonam Wangchuk says CJP leaders wanted to end protest after July 20 crackdown | India News - Hindustan Times

**Sonam Wangchuk alleges internal pressure to end NEET protest after July 20 crackdown**

*New Delhi, Aug 31, 2026* – In a series of fresh interviews, Sonam Wangchuk, the face of the nationwide students’ movement against the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), said that senior leaders of the Confederation of Junior Professionals (CJP) had pushed for a rapid termination of the protest following the police crackdown on July 20. Wangchuk recounted that, after the police dispersed demonstrators in several state capitals, CJP officials convened an emergency meeting and presented protestors with a stark choice: “take a break or exit.” He added that the group’s top brass, who he described as “not saints,” were keen to protect their own political ambitions rather than sustain the momentum of the movement.

Wangchuk also disclosed that the CJP leadership had reached out to senior opposition figures, including Rahul Gandhi of the Indian National Congress, to persuade the latter to intervene and call for an end to the hunger strike that had become the protest’s focal point. According to the engineer‑turned‑activist, Gandhi was approached with a proposal to “use his political clout to bring this chapter to a close,” a move that was ultimately rejected by the protest’s core participants. The revelation was corroborated by a Livemint report that described the outreach as a “test” of political goodwill before the fast began, and by India TV News, which noted that the CJP’s overtures were part of a broader strategy to re‑align the movement with mainstream party agendas.

Political analysts say the disclosures highlight a growing schism within the anti‑NEET front. While the student base remains committed to demanding a repeal or overhaul of the exam, senior CJP figures appear to be negotiating behind the scenes to safeguard future electoral prospects. The Guardian’s coverage of a separate hunger striker’s statement – labeling “honest leaders” as essential for a better future – underscores the broader disillusionment among activists who feel that established parties are co‑opted by personal ambitions. As the protest enters a new phase, observers note that the movement’s ability to sustain pressure will depend on whether grassroots participants can resist attempts to dilute their demands in favour of political expediency.