Renowned climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has announced he will persist with his hunger strike—now entering its 23rd day—until youth leaders are permitted to meet Parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or officials visit him directly at the Delhi hospital where he is currently admitted.
Wangchuk’s statement was shared via a handwritten, signed note on social media by his wife, Gitanjali Angmo. In the message, he offered solidary to the thousands of young protesters demonstrating under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a satirical-turned-offline political movement demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
“I will continue my fast (day 23). Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the Parliamentarians… or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital,” Wangchuk wrote, appealing to the government to resolve the gridlock by letting students safely air their grievances.
High-Stakes Talks & Parliament March
The development came just hours after Union Minister J.P. Nadda held an initial meeting with a CJP delegation, including representatives Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, who formally submitted a list of structural demands regarding examination accountability.
While the dialogue opened, tensions flared on the streets of the national capital. Thousands of youth attempted a massive “Sansad Chalo” march to Parliament to mark the beginning of the Monsoon Session. Delhi Police heavily fortified central Delhi, deploying 32 companies of paramilitary forces, barricading key routes, and temporarily shutting down five major metro stations. Tear gas was fired near Shastri Bhawan after segments of the crowd attempted to breach police cordons to join the main sit-in at Jantar Mantar.
Earlier in the morning, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke—who had launched a solidarity fast over the weekend after Wangchuk was forcefully moved to Safdarjung Hospital due to declining health—ended his hunger strike at Wangchuk’s personal request to help lead the demonstration.
Legal Battle Over Health Records
Simultaneously, a legal dispute unfolded over Wangchuk’s hospitalisation. The Delhi High Court sought complete medical records and official health bulletins from Safdarjung Hospital.
A division bench consisting of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia rejected relying strictly on standalone pathology reports, emphasizing that data must be weighed against clinical observation. The court is currently hearing an appeal filed by Gitanjali Angmo, challenging a single judge’s previous refusal to discharge Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital or allow his transfer to Medanta Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have urged the general public to verify facts and guard against spreading misinformation on social media amidst the ongoing security clampdown.
