Shivani
Sonam Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike for the last 20 days at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. On Saturday morning, a major development took place when police reached the protest site and shifted him to a hospital. Wangchuk was removed from the protest area early in the day after officials arrived. He had been staging the hunger strike to protest against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak issue. The incident has drawn public attention as the protest entered its twentieth day, marking a significant turn in the ongoing demonstration and public debate across the country.
Delhi Police said it acted according to the High Court’s orders and doctors’ advice because Sonam Wangchuk’s health had worsened. Police said Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital for necessary medical treatment. Reports added that he was admitted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. They also said he is conscious, and his vital signs are stable after receiving timely medical attention, while doctors continue to monitor his condition closely at the hospital.
🔴#BREAKING | Sonam Wangchuk Taken To Hospital On Day 21 Of Hunger Strike
NDTV’s @anushkagarg2000 reports from Jantar Mantar@reetksahni pic.twitter.com/gUzcmF0UBQ
— NDTV (@ndtv) July 18, 2026
The police urged protesters to leave Jantar Mantar peacefully after the High Court’s order. During the process, some people tried to block officials, leading to a brief commotion. Police said they acted with maximum restraint and handled the situation safely. They again appealed to all protesters to vacate the site peacefully as soon as possible.
Two days before the Delhi High Court hearing on his worsening health, police took action. The court had ordered daily medical check-ups for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. Saying that every citizen’s life is valuable, the judges directed authorities to monitor his health regularly and provide treatment whenever needed. The High Court also instructed the Centre to do everything possible to protect Wangchuk’s life and ensure proper medical care.
Doctors said on Friday that Sonam Wangchuk’s condition had become critical, raising fears of organ failure. Daily health updates had continued to express concern about his worsening condition. A medical bulletin released two days earlier said the activist had lost more than 8 kilograms during his fast, and his health had been steadily declining with each passing day.
The last few days saw a number of politicians from the Opposition parties visiting Wangchuk at the protest to show solidarity with his cause and urge him to end his hunger strike. Leaders including Congress’ Pawan Khera, SP MP Dimple Yadav and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal met Wangchuk in the last two days and urged him to end his fast in view of his health. The protesters have given a call to a march to Parliament on the first day of Monsoon Session on July 20. They have appealed to political parties to join the march.
The protest at Jantar Mantar was started by the online satirical movement, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), who are demanding educational reforms in India. Led by founder Abhijeet Dipke, the CJP’s immediate demand is the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak. Protesters say Pradhan must take moral responsibility for the leak and quit. In an interview with NDTV, Pradhan had dismissed CJP and its supporters as “the B-team of disruptive elements” who “do not have faith in the country’s progress”.