Hours after Delhi Police took Sonam Wangchuk to hospital on Saturday, the activist’s wife said no medical treatment should be given to him without her consent. It is the 21st day, a full three weeks, of Wangchuk’s indefinite hunger strike demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over leaked examination papers and student suicides.
His wife, Gitanjali J Angmu, says he should not have been taken to hospital. She is now in Safdarjung Hospital and is asking the authorities not to give him any medicine without consulting her, his family or his doctors.
“I am at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi where [Sonam Wangchuk] It was accepted,” she wrote on X. Follow the CJP protest chaos live here
“Nothing should be given to him orally or intravenously without my consent and the consent of his family and doctors who have been monitoring his health condition for the past 20 days.”
“I prohibit them from administering anything without my consent. No treatment should be started without my consent. I hold everyone responsible if anything happens,” Angmu told PTI.
She said Wangchuk was in good health on Friday. “Yesterday, he was fine. There was no need to bring him to the hospital. This is my right under Article 32. Without my consent and my doctor’s consent, nothing can be given,” she said.
Read also | CJP’s Abhijit Debaki announces indefinite hunger strike after Wangchuk is hospitalised.
Why did Delhi Police transfer Sonam Wangchuk?
Delhi Police said Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for “basic medical care” after expert medical advice and in compliance with directions issued by the Delhi High Court.
DCP (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma told HT, “Based on the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court and on expert medical advice due to deteriorating health condition of Sheikh Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to hospital for basic medical care.
While implementing the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the protesters tried to create obstruction, causing minor commotion, but the police exercised utmost restraint and carried out the exercise safely. We request the protesters at Jantar Mantar to vacate the place peacefully as soon as possible.”
Read also | High drama on day 21 of Wangchuk strike: hospitalized, Debaki ‘detained’, students asked to charge
CJP claims contempt of court
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) spokesperson Sourav Das alleged that the Delhi Police misinterpreted the Delhi High Court directions while shifting Sonam Wangchuk to the hospital and termed his detention as contempt of court.
“The Delhi High Court has ordered that Sonam Wangchuk’s health should be monitored and no intervention should be made unless his health deteriorates. His health is being monitored by our medical team 2-3 times a day and he himself is posting videos daily giving an update on his health condition which has remained stable. The Delhi Police has misinterpreted this court order and detained him under the guise of this order. The detention is in contempt of court order,” Das said.
Abhijit Debaki indefinite hunger strike, first day
CJP founder Abhijit Debaki on Saturday began an indefinite hunger strike after Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital earlier in the day.
“I will go on an indefinite hunger strike starting now,” Debke wrote on X.
In a separate post, the CPM said: “Abhijit Debki is on indefinite hunger strike. The Chalo Sansad march will continue on July 20 as planned.”
