A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking urgent intervention and medical aid to activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose health has deteriorated due to his ongoing hunger strike.
The PIL, filed by activist lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, seeks directions to the Central and Delhi governments to take Wanghcuk to a hospital and force feed him, Bar and Bench reported.
Wangchuk's health has deteriorated rapidly, he has lost 8.5 kg and if he continues with his hunger strike, he could end up losing his life in two days, the plea said.
According to the petitioner, if Wangchuk passes away, it would be a matter of great shame for the country and the world.
"The simple thing to be done is to take him to a government hospital and force feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals by way of a liquid diet which are necessary for human body to survive," the petitioner sought, according to Bar and Bench.
Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike enters 18th day
Wangchuk, whose hunger strike entered its 18th day on Wednesday, is suffering muscle loss and is in "immense pain" but has refused to end his protest in Jantar Mantar.
The 59-year-old activist joined the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest in Delhi for over the NEET issue and began his hunger strike on June 28.
Even as concerns grow over his health and calls from various corners to end his hunger strike, Wangchuk has refused to pay heed.
Political leaders, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, among others, requested the activist to end his fast.
Veteran actor Zeenat Aman appealed to the government to open a dialogue with Wangchuk, saying India should not "sit back and watch one of its greatest minds be sacrificed".
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday said Wangchuk has been losing muscle mass and was in "immense pain", adding the activist has lost 8.5 kg since beginning of his fast.
"He has started losing muscle mass and is in immense pain. Like everyone else, I begged him to end his fast. He calmly replied, 'Don't ask me to end my fast. Ask the government why they won't even have a dialogue,'" Dipke said in a post on X.
