Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk taken to hospital by Delhi Police amid indefinite hunger strike: What we know

Dramatic scenes unfolded at Jantar Mantar on Saturday after police took climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since 28 June, to a hospital.

The development comes a day after Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the last 20 days in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s protest seeking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, called for massive support for a scheduled Parliament march on 20 July.

Earlier on Friday, he said that he would stay alive till 20 July at any cost. Addressing his supporters, the climate activist said, "I am weak from the outside but very strong inside. I am sure all of you are strong from the inside, and outside too. We need this energy for July 20, when we will take out a peaceful march to Parliament. We will go together and present our plea in the temple of democracy."

Wangchuk's removal and the police action at Jantar Mantar in the national capital came a day after Delhi got a new police commissioner, Anurag Kumar, who replaced Satish Golchha, more than nine months before the latter's scheduled retirement.

CJP founder confirms Wangchuk removed from Jantar Mantar

In a post on X, Abhijeet Dipke, CJP founder, who has been protesting at Jantar Mantar since 20 June, said that Wangchuk was being taken to the hospital forcefully, as Delhi Police allegedly lathicharged students and removed them from the protest site.

In a separate post, Dipke claimed that he had been beaten up and detained by the police at the house of NCP spokesperson Anish Gawande.

Further, the Dipke-led movement claimed that police are trying to remove the three other students, namely Neha, Ameen, and Manish, who have also been on a hunger strike for 21 days.

Delhi Police on Wangchuk being taken to hospital

After Wangchuk was taken away to be admitted to a hospital, DCP New Delhi, in a post on X, wrote, "As per orders of Hon’ble High Court and on expert medical advice due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care." The post added, "While complying with the orders of Hon'ble High Court, the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued; however, police took maximum restraint and undertook the exercise safely."

DCP New Delhi further wrote, "We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest."

Wangchuk admitted to Safdarjung Hospital

News agency ANI, citing sources, reported that the climate activist was admitted to the emergency ward at Safdarjung Hospital in the capital. The sources added that his vital signs were stable and that he was conscious.

In a statement released, the hospital said, "Mr Sonam Wangchuk has been admitted at Safdarjung Hospital for required health care. He is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration. Although he is currently stable, he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his body parameters."

Political reactions to Wangchuk's removal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi President Saurabh Bharadwaj slammed the Central government on Saturday, shortly after Wangchuk was removed from the protest site, accusing the government of sending Delhi Police in civil dress. In a post on X, he wrote, "Goons of Modi Govt Delhi Police dressed up in civil dress and sports shoes forcefully entering the protest site.

They brought dozens of white bed-sheets to block camera views so that any violence/man-handling with Sonam Wangchuk & others is not video recorded. "

Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav also reacted to the incident. Sharing a video on her X account, she wrote, "The BJP folks are coming with a white shroud as a coffin for the country. When peaceful voices are suppressed, the Constitution and democracy are also wounded. Suppressing the voices of people like Sonam Wangchuk is to suppress the soul of the nation."

(with agency inputs)