Indian activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly taken to a government hospital on Saturday after spending 20 days on a hunger strike in New Delhi, where he had been protesting in support of demands for education reforms.
The 59-year-old had consumed only salt and water during the protest and reportedly lost more than nine kilograms. He had planned to join a march to India’s Parliament on Monday before police removed him from the protest site.
Authorities said the decision was made following medical advice and a Delhi High Court order directing officials to monitor his health.
Protesters vow campaign will continue
Videos from the protest site showed police and paramilitary personnel removing Wangchuk from the stage as protesters attempted to stop them.
His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, later confirmed that he had been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital and requested that no treatment be administered without the family’s consent.
Hospital officials said Wangchuk was alert and stable but suffering from dehydration and weakness caused by prolonged fasting.
Following his removal, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke began an indefinite hunger strike in Wangchuk’s place and pledged that the planned march to Parliament would proceed.
The Cockroach Janta Party began as an online satirical movement calling for reforms to India’s examination system after multiple paper leak scandals.
Protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for irregularities that led to the cancellation of a major medical entrance examination earlier this year.
Several opposition politicians criticized the government’s handling of Wangchuk’s protest, describing the police action as an attack on democratic rights and urging authorities to engage with demonstrators.
