Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike on Friday, and protesters said they would continue nationwide demonstrations until Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Wangchuk's fast helped galvanize a youth movement that began more than a month ago demanding education reforms after alleged leaks in some of the country's most competitive entrance exams, drawing professionals, families and activists to demonstrations in New Delhi and cities across the country.
Police used tear gas and batons this week to disperse marchers trying to reach Parliament, and thousands returned to the streets even after those confrontations.
In a post on X, Wangchuk said he ended his fast "in the presence of two federal ministers after appeals from dozens of members of parliament and following 'a long negotiation on various conditions and in view of possible violence in the country.'" He did not elaborate on the talks.
Protest organizers said demonstrations would continue until Dharmendra Pradhan resigned and called for demonstrations across the country on Friday in solidarity with students who were beaten by police during a march to Parliament on Monday that drew thousands. "We won't let Sonam sir's sacrifice go in vain," said Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of Cockroach Janta Party.
Modi publicly addressed the protests for the first time, announcing fast-track courts to prosecute cases involving examination paper leaks and saying his government would introduce "a legislation in Parliament to crack down on exam paper leaks." Protesters said the announcements did little to calm the movement, failing to address demands for government accountability, examination reforms and compensation for the families of students who died by suicide after exam paper leaks.
The movement is named in reference to a remark by the country's supreme court chief justice that compared some unemployed young people to cockroaches.