Sonam Wangchuk, a climate campaigner and educational reformer who had undertaken an indefinite fast for 20 days at Jantar Mantar, has been taken to Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi police. This has been done after the recommendations made by his doctors and orders passed by the Delhi High Court due to his deteriorating health condition.
The 59-year-old activist went on fast from June 28 demanding action over the irregularities in the competitive examinations and resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In the last three weeks, the movement of Wangchuk has received wide support from students and civil society members, making the Jantar Mantar a hub of protests.
It has been reported that the police moved him to hospital on the advice of medical experts because of his worsening health condition. It is also reported that the police have followed the orders of the Delhi High Court while moving him to the hospital. In addition to this, the police requested the protesters to leave the protesting site peacefully, but there were some scuffles due to this move.
Nevertheless, Wangchuk’s supporters and other members of the protest asserted that he had been taken into custody without enough communication. Protest leaders denounced the act of the police, claiming it was an effort to repress a democratic process. In light of Wangchuk’s hospitalization, the organizers of the protest made it clear that the protest would go on for several days ahead, with more rallies and plans to march to Parliament.
As the result of this event, various political implications can be noted, with the opposition leaders posing critical questions regarding the government’s actions in connection with the protest, while public personalities called on the authorities to start a dialogue with Wangchuk. As Wangchuk is now under medical observation, the protest has once again attracted national attention to the problems of transparency and reforms in the Indian exam system.
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