The protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar entered a new phase on Saturday after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike. While the Delhi Police said the decision was based on medical advice and a court order, protesters alleged that Wangchuk was removed against the wishes of his family.
Following Wangchuk's departure from the protest site early in the morning, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke announced that he would continue the indefinite fast. Speaking to supporters, Dipke became emotional and broke down while addressing the gathering.
Claiming that the movement would not stop, Dipke said he had been unfairly portrayed as a threat to the country.
"They say I am a national security threat. I am not. I am a citizen," he told protesters.
He urged people across India to organise peaceful demonstrations in their own cities, carrying photographs of Mahatma Gandhi and Sonam Wangchuk as symbols of the movement. Dipke also said protesters had been warned they could be detained, but insisted that the campaign would continue without fear.
The protest remains active with three members of the All India Students' Association (AISA)—Neha of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Ameen Amitoj of Ambedkar University Delhi and Manish Kumar of Allahabad University—continuing their indefinite hunger strike. Organisers said the three research scholars have suffered significant weight loss since the fast began 21 days ago, with Neha losing 7.5 kg, Ameen 9.5 kg and Manish 10.5 kg.
Several other supporters have also joined the hunger strike, while organisers reiterated that the planned march to Parliament on July 20 would proceed as scheduled.
Videos widely shared on social media appeared to show a group of men in plain clothes entering the protest site before Wangchuk was escorted to an ambulance. The authenticity of the footage has not been independently verified.
Delhi Police defended its action, stating that Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after his health deteriorated and in accordance with directions issued by the Delhi High Court. In a post on X, police said a small number of protesters attempted to obstruct the transfer, resulting in a brief disturbance, but officers exercised restraint while completing the operation. Authorities also appealed to demonstrators to vacate the protest venue peacefully.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk's wife said she was present at Safdarjung Hospital and requested that no treatment—whether oral or intravenous—be administered without the approval of the family and the team of doctors who had been monitoring his health throughout the hunger strike.
Despite Wangchuk's hospitalisation, protest organisers maintained that the movement would continue uninterrupted, with supporters expected to gather at Jantar Mantar before the proposed Sansad March on Sunday.
