Sonam Wangchuk on Monday asked Safdarjung Hospital to allow him to leave temporarily so that he can join the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) to Parliament. The activist is on the 23rd day of his indefinite hunger strike. Track the CJP’s July 20 rally live here
In a handwritten letter addressed to Safdarjung Hospital authorities, Wangchuk said he was fine and his health parameters were normal.
“This means that I am feeling very well today. My health indicators are also showing as completely normal. I therefore request you to allow me to leave the hospital, even if temporarily, so that I can join the march to the Parliament-Saansad Chalo this morning,” the letter read.
Wangchuk was removed from the protest site on July 18, and forcibly hospitalized by Delhi Police. They cited his health issues and directions from the Delhi High Court. Wangchuk claimed that he was being held under “unlawful detention” in the hospital.
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Sonam Wangchuk’s health status update
Earlier today, Safdarjung Hospital said in a new health bulletin that his vital signs are stable but his condition still requires close medical monitoring.
“Blood parameters continue to require close clinical monitoring. Mr. Wangchuk remains under continuous medical management and close supervision by a multidisciplinary team of experts,” the bulletin said.
The protest is entering a new phase
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 as part of the CJP’s protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over irregularities in the examination system, including leakage of NEET papers, and student suicides. The CJP protest began at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on June 20.
The CJP on Monday began its planned ‘Chalo Sansad’ march ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament.
The protest began despite Delhi Police refusing to grant permission and imposing prohibitory orders in parts of the national capital. According to police, about 8,000 protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar in the morning.
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Many opposition leaders and public figures, including Chandrashekar Azad, Mahua Moitra, Prakash Raj and Shabana Azmi, joined the protest.
In videos from the event, police were seen attacking students at the protest site. Delhi Police claimed that some protesters threw stones.
Wangchuk sets the conditions for a quick finish
Before the march, Wangchuk said he would end his hunger strike on July 20 if the center accepted responsibility for recent failures in the education system, including paper leaks, or if MPs assured him the issue would be raised in parliament.
In a note from Safdarjung Hospital, Wangchuk said he would also cancel his fast if MPs and leaders of different political parties visited him at the hospital and gave him the same assurances.
The letter ended with “From illegal detention in Safdarjung Hospital, where my freedom of movement, expression and all communication has been restricted.”
The Supreme Court to hear the wife’s appeal
The Delhi High Court on Monday agreed to hear the appeal filed by Wangchuk’s wife, Dr Gitanjali J Angmo, challenging a single judge’s refusal to allow his transfer from Safdarjung Hospital to a private hospital of his choice, news agency ANI reported.
A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia agreed to hear the matter at 2:30 pm after it was mentioned for urgent listing by senior advocate Akhil Sibal.
