As Sonam Wangchuk lay on the floor, she reiterated that the court order was known to everyone, saying: “It’s digitally everywhere. The world knows but you.”
A video has gone viral on social media showing education activist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in a heated confrontation with security personnel at Safdarjung Hospital, where authorities now say the incident occurred when he tried to leave for Medanta Hospital.
The clip is part of a larger video Wangchuk shared on his social media and YouTube accounts on Friday night, asking if he needed to “prove his sincerity” even after 26 days on hunger strike.
The video shows Wangchuk arguing with security personnel, accusing them of harassing him during his hunger strike. At one point, he said: “Ask them to arrest me, ask them to arrest me, arrest me. Why is that?” [harassing] For three hours on the twentieth day of my hunger?
Later in the clip, he can be heard saying: “You’re all teasing me. If I die from stress, it will be your responsibility.” path CJP Protest Today Live Updates.
He was also heard demanding the doors be opened, saying: “Please open, I’m going. Arrest me. Why are you forcing…people, this is torture. Now arrest me if you want, do you understand? Arrest me, arrest me. You can stop me anywhere, let the nation know how.”
Wangchuk lies on the hospital floor
The video also shows Wangchuk lying on the hospital floor in protest after the confrontation escalated. As supporters continued to record the incident, he could be heard saying: “Take pictures, let’s see who snatches your phone.” Moments ago, it appeared that someone tried to snatch a phone from the hands of one of his team members while they were filming.
Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmu, was also seen expressing anger during the exchange. While lying on the ground, Wangchuk reiterated that the court order was public knowledge, saying: “It exists digitally everywhere. The world knows but you. The world knows.” He later reiterated that it was “everywhere the world knows, except you people.”
Authorities issue clarification
Officials confirmed that the viral video was recorded at Safdarjung Hospital on July 21, the day the Delhi High Court informed Wangchuk’s family that he could be shifted to Medanta Hospital.
“This is as of July 21, the day the court informed Sonam’s family that he could be shifted to Medanta Hospital,” an official said.
Explaining why Wangchuk was stopped, the official added: “He was trying to leave for Medanta Hospital, but he was not allowed to do so as we were waiting for the court orders to reach us first and then we stopped him.”
Clarification of the hospital
Meanwhile, Safdarjung Hospital said the viral video was recorded before its management received a written order from the Delhi High Court allowing Sonam Wangchuk to be transferred to Medanta Hospital.
According to the hospital, Wangchuk wanted to leave based on media reports about the court’s decision, although the official written order had not yet reached the administration. “The video was recorded before the hospital administration received a written order from the Supreme Court. At that time, Mr. Wangchuk insisted on leaving the hospital based on information available in the media,” the statement said.
“It is pertinent to note that Mr. Wangchuk was handed over to the team of doctors from Medanta Gurugram on the same day at 6:40 pm, immediately after the hospital received the written order,” the statement read.
Wangchuk says he was treated ‘like a prisoner’
The video of the confrontation was included in a YouTube video posted by Wangchuk late Friday night, in which he explained the reason for his decision to end his indefinite hunger strike.
He said he agreed to cancel the fast only after the Center gave a written assurance that no legal action would be taken against the peaceful protesters.
Wangchuk claimed that after he was transferred to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18, he was treated “like a prisoner”, alleging that he was denied freedom of movement, prevented from meeting visitors and was not allowed to keep a mobile phone or laptop.
“It was as if I was in North Korea,” he said, adding that even after the Delhi High Court allowed him to move to Medanta Hospital, he was allegedly prevented from leaving Safdarjung Hospital for several hours.
In the video, Wangchuk also addressed criticism for not insisting on the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan during the negotiations. He said his immediate priority was to ensure that peaceful protesters did not face legal action.
Responding to those who questioned his decision to end the fast in the presence of Union ministers, Wangchuk said they did not understand the circumstances he faced after being removed from the protest site.
“If I had to make a deal, would I have stayed hungry for 26 days? Couldn’t I have made a deal sitting in an air-conditioned room instead of fasting in the Delhi heat?” he asked.
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