Indian police have moved activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital after his health reportedly deteriorated during a 20-day hunger strike demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities.
The 59-year-old engineer and environmental campaigner began his fast last month at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar protest site, where hundreds of students have gathered in support of his campaign against India’s examination system.
In a statement, Delhi Police said Wangchuk was transferred to hospital following orders from the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical experts.
“As per the orders of the High Court and on expert medical advice due to deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care,” a deputy commissioner of Delhi Police said.
Police added that some protesters attempted to block the transfer, leading to what authorities described as a “slight commotion.”
Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, confirmed on X that she was with him at the hospital. She urged medical personnel not to administer any treatment without the consent of his family and the doctors who had monitored his condition throughout the hunger strike.
“Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenously without consent from me, his family, and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days,” she wrote.
The Delhi High Court ordered government doctors to monitor Wangchuk’s condition daily, stressing that “the life of any citizen is precious.”
The court also directed authorities to ensure that any medical intervention necessary to save his life should be carried out.
The protest was sparked by allegations of malpractice in India’s medical entrance examinations. Wangchuk has called for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign over the controversy.
His campaign gained momentum after more than 2.2 million aspiring medical students were forced to retake a national entrance examination last month after the original test was cancelled because of a paper leak. A separate controversy involving errors in high school examination marking has also fuelled nationwide anger and student protests.
Just hours before police intervened, Wangchuk defended the protest, saying smaller movements had previously brought down governments in India.
“Smaller movements have brought down many governments in India… and here it is about education,” he said.
Following Wangchuk’s transfer to hospital, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke announced he would begin an indefinite hunger strike, accusing the government of mishandling the situation.
“The government has made a serious mistake,” Dipke said.
Several opposition politicians have backed Wangchuk’s campaign, although some have urged protesters not to risk his life. Former opposition lawmaker Priyanka Chaturvedi appealed for him to end the fast.
“We need you to live to fight another day,” she said on X.
The protests are expected to continue alongside other demonstrations planned during India’s monsoon parliamentary session.
