In a dramatic turn of events, social activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on early Saturday morning after Delhi Police ‘forcibly’ removed him from the Jantar Mantar protest site, where he had been on an indefinite hunger strike for the past 20 days.
Eyewitnesses at the site said police personnel in plain clothes surrounded Wangchuk before moving him into an ambulance. During the operation, white bed sheets were reportedly held up to block public view, prompting criticism from protesters over the manner in which the activist was taken away.
Wangchuk had joined the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led agitation on June 28 in support of its campaign seeking greater transparency, accountability and reforms in India's education system. The protest also demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including NEET.
He had previously acknowledged that his health had weakened, saying he was "not in good shape, but not so bad either." But had refused to end his fast. In multiple video statements he had appealed to supporters not to ask him to end his fast. Instead, he urged them to join the planned July 20 "Chalo Sansad" (March to Parliament), saying that public participation would be a far more meaningful contribution than appeals for him to eat. He argument was that - ending the hunger strike without any response from the government would send the wrong message - that governments can ignore peaceful protests without accountability.
"Yes, I am still alive. Twenty per cent of my body is gone. After fats, muscles are gone. After that, organs will go. Finally, the brain. The time has not come yet”, he said in one of the videos.
Delhi Police maintained that the decision to shift Wangchuk was taken because of concerns over his health after his prolonged fast, while supporters questioned the need for the intervention and alleged that unnecessary force was used during the removal.
Shortly after he was taken to the hospital, Wangchuk's wife issued a public appeal requesting that no medication or medical procedure be administered to him without her consent or without consultation with his treating doctors. She said he had not consented to any treatment beyond necessary medical evaluation.
“I am at Safdarjung hospital in Delhi where @Wangchuk66 has been admitted. Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenous without take consent from me, his family and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days” posted Gitanjali Angmo on ‘X’
The incident has intensified the political debate surrounding the ongoing protest, with supporters accusing the authorities of suppressing a peaceful democratic movement, while officials have defended the action as a necessary medical intervention in view of Wangchuk's deteriorating condition.
