Sonam Wangchuk to End Hunger Strike on Two Conditions, Wife Says
Activist Sonam Wangchuk has agreed to end his three-week-long hunger strike if two conditions are met, his wife Gitanjali Angmo announced on Sunday. This comes hours after the Delhi High Court declined a request to move him from Safdarjang Hospital to a private facility.
Wangchuk, who has been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the recent NEET question paper leaks, will end his fast on Monday if political leaders meet him and assure him that the issue of accountability in education will be raised in Parliament during the Monsoon Session, which begins on Monday.
On Saturday morning, Delhi police removed Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar, where he was protesting, and admitted him to the government-run Safdarjang Hospital. His wife had sought to transfer him to Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, arguing that he was admitted without his or his family's consent and was being confined against his wishes.
A bench led by Justice Mini Pushkarna ruled that the government was within its rights to shift him, as he did not voluntarily seek hospitalisation despite failing health. The court stated, “No interim orders are required to be passed at this stage.” It also noted that doctors are closely monitoring him and providing oral medication with his consent, so it cannot be said that force is being used or his autonomy violated.
Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, representing the family, said they would challenge the order before a division bench. The Central government submitted that Wangchuk's health had worsened due to the prolonged fast and that he was shifted in compliance with a July 16 division bench order directing authorities to monitor his health and intervene if needed.
Earlier on Sunday, Wangchuk issued a message from the hospital urging supporters to participate in a march proposed by the Cockroach Janta Party on July 20.
As per the hospital, Wangchuk's vital parameters are stable, and blood parameters have shown minor improvement but require constant monitoring. Due to physiological stress from prolonged fasting, he needs continuous medical care under a multidisciplinary team's supervision.
