In a memorandum, Sonam Wangchuk claimed that he was “illegally detained” at Safdarjung Hospital, with his freedom of movement, expression and communication restricted.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk said on Monday that he would end his indefinite hunger strike on July 20 if the government accepts responsibility for recent failures in the education system or if MPs assure him that the issue will be raised in Parliament. He is on the 23rd day of his fast.
In a handwritten note from Safdarjung Hospital, where he was forcibly taken to hospital by Delhi Police on July 18, Wangchuk set out three conditions under which his fast should be cancelled. He also claimed that he was being held under “unlawful detention” in the hospital. Track the CJP’s July 20 rally live here
“Dear friends and supporters, many of you have asked when I will end quickly. As we previously mentioned to supporters, I will end my fast on July 20, if…” Wangchuk wrote.
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He said he would end the fast if the government took responsibility for the recent failures in the education system, including paper leaks, or if members of Parliament and leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reached Parliament and the political parties confirmed that they would take up the issue.
He added that if his health condition or other factors prevent him from continuing his fast, he will end his fast if representatives and leaders of different parties visit him in the hospital and give him the same guarantees.
The memorandum dated July 19 concluded: “From unlawful detention at Safdarjung Hospital, where my freedom of movement, expression and all communication has been restricted.”
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Protest gains momentum ahead of ‘Chalo Sansad’
Wangchuk issued the memorandum as thousands of supporters gathered at Jantar Mantar ahead of the “Chalo Sansad” rally planned by the CJP on Monday.
CJP founder Abhijit Debaki called for an all-night vigil, while Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmu, said her husband would end his hunger strike if political leaders assured him they would lift accountability for education in Parliament.
The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over irregularities in the education system, including leakage of recent NEET papers, and student suicides.
The police refuse to allow the march
Delhi Police said it would not allow the proposed march to Parliament. “No permission has been sought or granted for any proposed march to Parliament on 20 July 2026,” they said in X.
We advise citizens not to participate in any unauthorized gathering or procession. Please respect the prohibitory orders in place and cooperate with Delhi Police in maintaining public peace, safety and security.”
Supreme Court rejects Wangchuk’s transfer request
Earlier on Sunday, the Delhi High Court asked Wangchuk to cooperate with doctors at Safdarjung Hospital after authorities forcibly transferred him there on the 21st day of his fast.
After hearing an urgent petition filed by his wife, Gitanjali Angmu, the court refused to transfer Wangchuk to a private hospital. It asked the authorities to submit a report on his health condition within three days and set the next hearing for July 24.
Doctors said Wangchuk remained weak and suffering from slight dehydration after days of fasting, but was in stable condition.
The hospital cannot force treatment: the wife
Gitanjali Angmo on Sunday questioned the treatment given to Wangchuk at Safdarjung Hospital. She claimed that doctors who had been monitoring his health condition for weeks were denied access to him.
“They are not allowing our doctors to come here. Dr. Diji, who has been monitoring Sonam for the past 20 days, is standing here, but they are not allowing him to enter his room,” she claimed.
She said that every patient has the right to seek a second or even a third medical opinion. “No hospital can impose its report or treatment on the patient.”
Angmo also claimed that the authorities used Wangchuk’s health as an excuse to take him to hospital. She added: “If the government had really brought him here for his health, it would have acted transparently, with the family’s consent and appropriate medical advice. Instead, uniformed police arrived and forcefully took him away.”
