In his latest video message, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk said he would continue his hunger strike indefinitely despite growing concerns about his health, urging his supporters to join him and the Kokruch Janta Party in a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20 rather than demand he end his fast.
“I’m not feeling well but not too bad either… Instead of asking me for breakfast, please join me on July 20… peacefully march to Parliament,” Wangchuk said in a post on X, a day before the Delhi High Court heard a request for urgent medical intervention.
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Delhi HC hearing on Thursday
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on Thursday a public interest litigation expressing concern about Wangchuk’s deteriorating health while he was on an indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar.
The petition, which was filed on Wednesday, seeks directions to admit the activist to hospital, ensure that he receives proper medical treatment and is provided with nutritional support through force-feeding, if necessary.
Read also | Who has supported Sonam Wangchuk so far? A look at the list of politicians and actors amid hunger strike fears
“It won’t end quickly”: Wangchuk
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has called for a one-day mass hunger strike today in solidarity with Wangchuk and students across the country.
In a post on X, the CJP said: “Tomorrow, July 16, join us in a one-day mass hunger strike in solidarity with Sonam Wangchuk and the students of this country.”
Wangchuk, who began an indefinite hunger strike, said on Wednesday that he would not end his fast because that would send a message that the protests were not serious.
He said in a video message that although he lost muscle mass, his heart and other vital organs were working well and his medical reports remained normal.
He appealed to his supporters and well-wishers to participate in a peaceful march to Parliament on July 20 instead of urging him to cancel the fast.
Read also | ‘Force feeding Sonam Wangchuk’: Petition in Delhi HC seeks liquid diet and hospitalizes climate activist on hunger strike
Wangchuk receives support
CJP founder Abhijit Debke said Wangchuk’s condition worsened significantly during the fast.
As concern mounted over his condition, political party leaders, including Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and RJD’s national conference coordinator Arvind Kejriwal, appealed to Wangchuk to call off his hunger strike.
The CJP, which has been protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the past 25 days over the NEET issue, unveiled the five-point examination reform charter on Tuesday, claiming that support for its agitation is growing across political parties.
Veteran actress Zeenat Aman urged the government to start talks with Wangchuk, saying India should not “sit back and watch one of its greatest minds being sacrificed”.
Actor Umi Vaidya, best known for playing Chatur “Silencer” Ramalingam in the film 3 Idiots, also appealed to the public to pay attention to Wangchuk’s deteriorating health, saying he did not want the activist to die.
