New Delhi, July 18 (NVI) On the 21st day of his hunger strike, noted activist Sonam Wangchuk was today removed by the police from the protest site at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and taken to a hospital.
This morning, hordes of Delhi Police personnel, many of them in civil clothes, landed at the protest site and took the 59-year-old Wangchuk away.
He was put into a waiting ambulance and taken to Safdarjung Hospital.
Wangchuk, who hails from Ladakh and whose life had inspired popular Bollywood movie ‘3 Idiots’, has been on a hunger strike, demanding resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.
In a statement Delhi Police said it acted in accordance with the orders of the High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk.
“Sonam Wangchuk has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care,” Police statement said.
The police have also appealed to the protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar peacefully.
“While complying with the orders of Hon’ble High Court the protesters tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued. Police, however, exercised maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely. We request the protesters at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest.”
The police action came ahead of the hearing in Delhi High Court over deteriorating health. The court had two days ago directed authorities to conduct daily clinical health checks on climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
Observing that “life of any citizen is precious”, the court ordered regular medical monitoring and necessary medical intervention. The High Court had told Centre that “anything and everything should be done to protect Wangchuk’s life”.
On Friday, doctors who checked on Wangchuk had described his condition as an emergency with a fear of his organs failing.
Daily medical bulletins had raised concerns over Wangchuk’s health.
A medical update two days ago had said that the activist had lost over 8 kilos and his health was deteriorating.
The last few days saw a number of politicians from the Opposition parties visiting Wangchuk at the protest to show solidarity with his cause and urge him to end his hunger strike.
Among them were Congress’ Pawan Khera, SP MP Dimple Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal.
The protesters have given a call to a march to Parliament on the first day of Monsoon Session on July 20.
They have appealed to political parties to join the march.
The protest at Jantar Mantar was started by the online satirical movement, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who are demanding educational reforms in India.
Led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, the CJP’s immediate demand is the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.
The protesters say Pradhan must take moral responsibility for the leak and quit. (NVI)
