Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike for the education minister's resignation over exam irregularities persists, now in its 22nd day, despite his hospitalization following a Delhi High Court ruling prioritizing his medical needs. The article highlights the double-edged nature of such protests, which possess moral force but can become strategically limiting. It criticizes the government's "cold, unyielding stonewalling" and refusal to engage with dissent, viewing it as an abdication of democratic responsibility. The author argues that while maximalist demands can narrow constructive engagement, the government has displayed poor statesmanship by sidestepping its duty to listen. A tactical Plan B is crucial for protesters.