Dramatic scenes unfolded at Jantar Mantar on Saturday after police took climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike since 28 June, to a hospital.
The development comes a day after Wangchuk, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for the last 20 days in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)’s protest seeking Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, called for massive support for a scheduled Parliament march on 20 July.
Earlier on Friday, he said that he will stay alive till 20 July at any cost. Addressing his supporters, the climate activist said, “I am weak from the outside but very strong inside. I am sure all of you are strong from the inside, and outside too. We need this energy for July 20, when we will take out a peaceful march to Parliament. We will go together and present our plea in the temple of democracy.”
Wangchuk’s removal and the police action at Jantar Mantar in the national capital came a day after Delhi got a new police commissioner, Anurag Kumar, who replaced Satish Golchha, more than nine months before the latter’s scheduled retirement.
CJP founder confirms Wangchuk removed from Jantar Mantar
In a post on X, Abhijeet Dipke, CJP founder, who has been protesting at Jantar Mantar since 20 June, said that Wangchuk was being taken to the hospital forcefully, as Delhi Police allegedly lathicharged students and removed them from the protest site.
In a separate post, Dipke claimed that he had been beaten up and detained by the police at the house of NCP spokesperson Anish Gawande.
Further, the Dipke-led movement claimed that police are trying to remove the three other students, namely Neha, Ameen, and Manish, who have also been on a hunger strike for 21 days.
Delhi Police on Wangchuk being taken to hospital
After Wangchuk was taken away to be admitted to a hospital, DCP New Delhi, in a post on X, wrote, “As per orders of Hon’ble High Court and on expert medical advice due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care.” The post added, “While complying with the orders of Hon’ble High Court, the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued; however, police took maximum restraint and undertook the exercise safely.”
DCP New Delhi further wrote, “We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest.”
Wangchuk admitted to Safdarjung Hospital
News agency ANI, citing sources, reported that the climate activist was admitted to the emergency ward at Safdarjung Hospital in the capital. The sources added that his vital signs were stable and that he was conscious.
Article source: livemint.com
