HungerStrike – Sonam Wangchuk Shifted to Hospital Ahead of Parliament March
HungerStrike – Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to a hospital on Saturday morning after completing 20 days on a hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, according to officials. Soon after he was taken for medical care, a large number of Delhi Police personnel were deployed around the protest venue. The development comes just two days before Wangchuk and his supporters are scheduled to march towards Parliament on July 20 in support of their demands.
Health Condition Under Close Observation
Authorities have not yet released detailed information about Wangchuk’s current medical condition or the exact circumstances that led to his hospitalisation. Officials are expected to provide further updates after doctors complete a detailed assessment.
Medical observations released on Friday indicated that his health had continued to weaken during the prolonged fast. According to Dr. Satish Lamba of the Delhi Medical Association, Wangchuk’s weight had fallen to 56.55 kilograms after dropping another 350 grams within 24 hours. His blood pressure was recorded at 108/68 mmHg, while his blood sugar measured 70 mg/dL and his pulse rate stood at 72 beats per minute.
Allegation Raised After Late-Night Incident
Late on Friday night, Abhijeet Dipke, Founding President of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), claimed that Wangchuk had been attacked at the protest site. However, no official confirmation regarding the allegation has been issued by the authorities, and further details are awaited.
Opposition Leaders Extend Support
On Friday, several senior leaders from opposition parties visited Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar to express concern over his health and extend their support. Among those who met the activist were Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav, Congress leader Pawan Khera and Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray.
Their visits came as political attention surrounding the hunger strike continued to grow, with multiple parties urging the government to respond to the concerns raised by Wangchuk.
Political Reactions Continue
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray criticised the Union government over its handling of the protest, alleging that it had remained unresponsive despite Wangchuk’s prolonged fast. He described the government’s approach as lacking sensitivity toward the activist’s demands.
AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan also appealed to the Centre to initiate discussions with Wangchuk. He further encouraged students and parents to support the campaign while urging authorities to find a peaceful resolution through dialogue.
Delhi High Court Ordered Daily Medical Monitoring
Earlier this week, the Delhi High Court directed that Wangchuk’s health should be examined every day during his hunger strike. The court observed that every citizen’s life holds equal value and emphasised that government authorities must take appropriate steps to safeguard it.
The bench further instructed that if government doctors recommend any medical treatment or intervention, the necessary care should be provided without delay. These directions were issued by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia while disposing of a public interest litigation that highlighted concerns over Wangchuk’s declining health.
Protest Focused on Examination Issues
Sonam Wangchuk, widely known as an engineer, education reformer and climate activist from Ladakh, began his indefinite hunger strike to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. His protest is linked to allegations of irregularities in competitive examinations across the country, including the controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak.
Along with the ongoing fast, Wangchuk and his supporters have announced a march to Parliament on July 20 to press for their demands. His hospitalisation has now placed fresh focus on both his health and the future course of the planned demonstration.