Sonam Wangchuk Removed from Jantar Mantar; Rahul Gandhi Denounces 'Asatya and Hinsa'

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday criticised the central government after Delhi police removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar on the 21st day of his hunger strike. Gandhi, in a social media post, said that the core tenets of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government are “falsehood and violence,” using the Hindi terms ‘Asatya’ and ‘Hinsa’.

“The removal of Sonam Wangchuk ji from Jantar Mantar while he was on a non-violent hunger strike is wrong,” Gandhi posted on X (formerly Twitter). He added that issues such as paper leaks, rising education costs, and student suicides are critical for India’s future, and that the voices of students and their families cannot be subdued by force.

Sonam Wangchuk, an education activist and engineer, had been on a hunger strike since June 28, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The protest was ongoing at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in Delhi.

On Saturday, Delhi police personnel, some in civilian clothes, arrived at the site and carried Wangchuk to an ambulance. He was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for medical evaluation due to his prolonged fast. Police said the action was taken on health grounds, as his condition was deemed critical.

Following the removal, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, who was also at the protest site, alleged that he was assaulted and detained by police. He claimed he was denied entry to the site and later announced he would begin an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity.

The incident has sparked political reactions. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not issue an immediate statement, but party spokespersons have earlier defended the government's handling of the NEET issue, stating that investigations are underway and those responsible will be punished.

The NEET-UG paper leak, which allegedly occurred in May, has led to protests across several states. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing the matter. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has denied any wrongdoing and has not resigned.

This report is based on statements from Rahul Gandhi, eyewitness accounts, and police sources. No independent verification of Dipke’s assault claim was possible at the time of reporting.