, July 25 -- Activist Sonam Wangchuk has said he ended his 26-day hunger strike without securing the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan because his immediate priority was to protect student protesters from legal action.

Wangchuk, 59, had been on an indefinite fast since June 28 in support of members of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who launched a "Sansad Chalo" march demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Pradhan.

He ended the fast shortly after midnight on Thursday after the Indian government provided a written assurance that no cases would be filed against peaceful protesters. The government also agr...