Sonam Wangchuk News Highlights: ‘Delhi police planning to crackdown on protest during….’ Abhijeet Dipke's big claim

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Ritabrata Banerjee expressed support for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, saying the issue behind the protest was valid. "...The issue for which he (Sonam Wangchuk) is on a hunger strike is a valid one. We stand in solidarity with him, and we support his movement..."

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, party leader Aaditya Thackeray and MP Sanjay Raut arrived in Mumbai amid political developments. Speaking on the situation in Delhi, Aaditya Thackeray said, "Was anyone expecting anything different? This is the injustice we have been facing. This is the injustice the country is witnessing today. What has happened to Sonam Wangchuk is exactly what is happening to the country."

Bhagwanrao Dipke, father of Cockroach Janta Party president Abhijeet Dipke, has criticised the police action against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar, calling it a “murder of democracy”. Speaking from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra, Bhagwanrao said Abhijeet had informed him that Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest site and silenced during the process. He said the protest had remained peaceful for several days and expressed concern over Abhijeet’s reported plans to begin a hunger strike, citing his health issues, including migraine. Bhagwanrao also accused the government of acting in a “dictatorial manner” and said he would travel to Delhi to join the protest if necessary.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has written to the President of India seeking urgent intervention over alleged repeated irregularities in the NEET examination, accountability of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and structural reforms in the examination system. In a post on X, FAIMA said, "#FAIMA has written to the Hon'ble President of India @rashtrapatibhvn seeking urgent intervention on repeated #NEET irregularities,accountability of the NTA & structural reforms in the examination system. We have also requested transparent twice-daily medical bulletins on Shri Sonam Wangchuk's health following his hospitalization,while ensuring his dignity, legal rights, and democratic freedoms are fully protected. Students deserve transparency, accountability, and justice."

Two people have been apprehended for allegedly defacing public property by painting murals of activist Sonam Wangchuk on public walls near the Jyoti Bishnu Auditorium in Guwahati's Khanapara area, police said.

According to the Guwahati Police, the two were caught by a patrolling team on Friday night while they were allegedly painting the murals on public property.

Police said two separate cases have been registered at different police stations in connection with the incident.

The accused have been identified as Nakul Mili, a resident of Dibrugarh, and Gaurav Singha of Guwahati.

According to the police, the two were apprehended for allegedly damaging public property. The investigation is underway.

Actor Sonakshi Sinha, singer Vishal Dadlani and actor Parvathy Thiruvothu have expressed their disappointment over the way educationist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital from the protest spot where he has been on an indefinite hunger strike.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a 21-day hunger strike, is showing signs of dehydration and urgently requires fluid and electrolyte therapy to prevent potentially serious complications, even as he and his family declined the recommended treatment despite repeated counselling, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said on Saturday.

As the doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital warned of kidney and metabolic risk to activist Sonam Wangchuk, his wife Gitanjali J Angmo has demanded his immediate discharge, citing a lack of transparency by the hospital administration regarding claims of dehydration, drop in his Potassium levels and rising ketone levels.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi as to why he did not initiate a dialogue with those protesting against paper leaks, and urged people to come out on the streets to protest peacefully and fight this "new battle for freedom".

The forcible removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar, citing health concerns, is set to resonate during the all-party meeting convened by the government on Sunday.

This meeting, which will involve the floor leaders of all major parties, will discuss several pressing issues, including the alleged embezzlement of donations for the Ram temple in Ayodhya, PTI reported.

Wangchuk's removal from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi by the city police will dominate the customary meet.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk's doctor, Dr Nitin Dighe, on Saturday questioned the medical findings shared by Safdarjung Hospital, saying they differed from the blood test results obtained by his team a day earlier.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Dighe said a blood sample collected from Mr Wangchuk at 3 pm on Friday showed a normal potassium level, contrary to the hospital's reported findings indicating a potassium deficiency.

"My team and I have been doing his checkups for the past 20 days. His advocates and we have not been allowed to meet him so far. His wife is here, and they are allowing her. I asked them why they have kept him here, and we were told that he is showing potassium deficiency. I had taken his blood sample at 3 pm yesterday, and potassium was normal at that time. It was 4.8, higher than the normal value of 3.5. Now, they are saying the value has dropped. When his wife is asking for a report, they are not giving one to her. This is suspicious, so I am collecting his blood and taking it for a report. I will present the report to you," he said.

Dr Dighe also alleged that the hospital had not shared Mr Wangchuk's medical reports with the family. He told ANI that Mr Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, had submitted an application seeking his discharge and permission to shift him to another hospital, citing what she described as "suspicious" circumstances surrounding his treatment.

The Cockroach Janta Party shared a video on X, claiming it contains a message from social activist Sonam Wangchuk during his detention. According to the post, Wangchuk thanked his supporters for continuing their peaceful protests and said his hunger strike remains underway. He also reportedly said the movement would continue until its demands are met.

Commenting on Sonam Wangchuk's removal from Delhi's Jantar Mantar and subsequent hospitalisation, former Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan said it was "vital" to ensure the activist's life was saved.

"Sonam Wangchuk has been taken to the hospital, and it is vital that his life is saved. This action does not pose a challenge to our constitutional values. The Constitution remains the ultimate protector of the fundamental rights of the people of this country. India stands out as a nation where such care is taken. People must be enlightened about their own problems and responsibilities; only then can constitutional rights be fully protected for all citizens," he said.

The hospital said Sonam Wangchuk is refusing medication, while his family has not consented to treatment, raising concerns over the seriousness of his condition, NDTV reported.

CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka took to Instagram and said, “It's a critical night.” This came after CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke today alleged that Delhi Police was planning to act against the protest during the night or early morning hours to suppress the voice of the youth.

For much of climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk's public life, his wife Gitanjali J Angmo stayed away from the spotlight. That changed dramatically over the weekend after Wangchuk was shifted from Delhi's Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital amid his ongoing hunger strike.

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Actress Dia Mirza extended support to Sonam Wangchuk and other activists on hunger strike.

The forcible removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar, citing health concerns, is set to resonate during the all-party meeting convened by the government on Sunday ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament.

Wangchuk's removal from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest site at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi by the city police will dominate the customary meet.

Hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk was whisked to a hospital here on Saturday, on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike in Delhi, former Chief Justice of India, Justice K G Balakrishnan said, "Let his life be saved".

He made the brief comment on his condition during an interaction with PTI Videos on the sidelines of an event in Delhi.

Wangchuk and the three activists from AISA have been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since June 28 in support of the Cockroach Janata Party-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.

Police, earlier in the day, said Wangchuk was hospitalised in accordance with the Delhi High Court's directions after his health worsened and is receiving the required medical intervention. He was taken away to the Safdarjung Hospital.

– PTI