Beginning with the opening of communication channels by a Congress MP and persuasion by civil society leaders from Ladakh, it took over three days of negotiations to get climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, the face of the ongoing Jantar Mantar protests, to break his fast late on Thursday night.Sources said the government began making attempts to reach out to Wangchuk by the evening of July 20 when the protests ran into lathicharges and tear gas fired by the police during the march to Parliament. It is learnt that Congress MP Vivek Tankha who was among the lawyers who fought Wangchuk’s National Security Act (NSA) case in the Supreme Court — and is said to be close to the activist — played a significant role in opening communication channels between the government and Wangchuk and finding a middle ground that both could agree on.“Government was not ready to commit to an assurance on Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, which had been the principal demand of the ongoing agitation. But it was also keen to convince Wangchuk to end his fast and find a resolution to the impasse. Eventually, some agreeable terms were arrived at with some help from an Opposition MP,” a government source said.The source said Tankha’s intervention was driven purely by his concern for Wangchuk’s failing health due to a prolonged hunger strike. “He had lost more than 11 kg of weight and those around him were concerned,” the source said.Must Read | Differences between Sonam Wangchuk and CJP? Saurav Das answers big questionOn July 21, Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh met Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon. The two are learnt to have assured him that issues raised by him would be taken up for discussion in Parliament and urged him to end his fast. Singh had earlier also spoken to Wangchuk’s wife Geetanjali Angmo, it is learnt.On July 22, a delegation comprising Tankha, Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose, and CPI(M) MP John Brittas met Wangchuk and Gitanjali Angmo. They appealed to the activist to withdraw his indefinite fast, saying the struggle for a fair and transparent examination system had become a national cause. They urged the activist to end his fast as his message had resonated across the country.“The nation, especially its youth, needs your wisdom and guidance far more than your sacrifice… Just as the Union Territory of Ladakh needs Sonam Wangchuk, India needs you too… not in suffering, but in service, serving those causes that will benefit generations to come. The country needs you,” the MPs said in a letter handed over to Wangchuk.Story continues below this adSources said it was on Tankha’s persuasion that Wangchuk issued an open letter to Nadda subsequently where, in order to end his fast, he requested an “unequivocal assurance from the government that none of the young protesters will face any punitive or retaliatory legal action for participating in this movement”. This was a noteworthy climbdown from the collective demand of the protests that Pradhan must resign.Also Read | CJP’s nationwide protest today after Sonam Wangchuk ends hunger strikeTankha told The Indian Express, “Wangchuk ji ending his fast is separate from the ongoing movement. The movement of the youth continues. But his health was deteriorating. It was important to save his life. He is an inspiration to the youth in the country. He was to end his fast on July 20 itself. But the government treated him badly. So, he continued his fast.”In parallel, civil society leaders from Ladakh arrived in Delhi from Leh on July 21. Their attempts to meet Wangchuk at Safdarjung Hospital and then at Medanta, however, were unsuccessful on July 21 and 22. On July 23, however, the leaders were allowed to meet Wangchuk in the morning, accompanied by an Intelligence Bureau official.The Ladakh leaders too urged Wangchuk to end his fast. “The movement had moved beyond him. He had done his part. By the time we met him, an understanding had already been reached between the government and him about ending his fast. He just wanted a written assurance, which came late at night. We need him in Ladakh to spearhead our own negotiations with the government on issues concerning our region,” a leader in the Ladakh delegation told The Indian Express.Story continues below this adAmid all this, the government also assured Ladakh leaders that talks to resolve issues concerning the region would be held soon, sources said.By late night on July 23, Nadda and Singh arrived at Medanta with a written assurance from the government. It said, “Government is positive on not registering cases against those protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and those participating in the march to Parliament on July 20, 2026.”The assurances included a discussion in Parliament and “suitable compensation” for suicide victims following the NEET paper leak. PM Narendra Modi had already announced by then that a new Bill would be introduced in Parliament to deal with paper leaks.Sources close to Wangchuk said his decision was entirely informed by his concern for the well-being of protesters who he felt could face serious legal trouble in future. Sources said Wangchuk was likely to stay in the hospital for the next few days to complete his recovery. He is likely to meet youth leaders at Jantar Mantar before going back to Ladakh.