Climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk was taken to a Delhi hospital after spending more than 20 days on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, with concerns over his health prompting police to step in. The early morning move brought his protest back into the national spotlight and sparked fresh political reactions.
Wangchuk has been fasting to press the Centre on long-pending demands related to Ladakh, including constitutional safeguards, environmental protection and sustainable development. Over the past three weeks, supporters gathered daily at the protest site, while doctors regularly monitored his health as he continued to refuse food.
According to Delhi Police, medical experts advised that Wangchuk needed immediate hospital care after his condition weakened following the prolonged fast. Acting on that advice, officers shifted him to VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in the early hours, saying the decision was taken to ensure he received timely medical attention.
Videos from Jantar Mantar showed police removing the activist before dawn, even as some supporters tried to stop the action. Several protesters claimed they were caught by surprise and were initially not told where Wangchuk had been taken. Police later confirmed that he had been admitted for medical observation.
Hospital officials said Wangchuk’s condition was stable, but he remained physically weak after fasting for more than three weeks. Doctors are keeping him under close observation, with dehydration and the effects of prolonged fasting among their primary concerns.
The activist’s family questioned the manner in which he was shifted from the protest site. His wife said that while his health should be monitored, any medical treatment should be carried out only with his consent. Her remarks added another layer to the debate over the police intervention.
The incident also triggered strong political reactions. Opposition leaders criticised the removal of Wangchuk from the protest site, calling it an unnecessary action against a peaceful protester. Supporters of the activist echoed similar concerns, saying his campaign deserved dialogue rather than disruption.
Authorities, however, maintained that protecting Wangchuk’s life was their top priority. Police said the intervention followed medical advice and was aimed solely at ensuring his safety as his health continued to deteriorate.
Despite Wangchuk’s hospitalisation, the protest is set to continue.CJI activist Abhijeet Dipke announced that he would carry forward the movement and continue raising the issues highlighted during Wangchuk’s fast. Protest organisers also appealed to supporters to remain peaceful while keeping public attention focused on Ladakh’s concerns.
In the days before he was hospitalised, Wangchuk had repeatedly urged people not to focus only on his fast but on the larger cause behind it. Acknowledging that he was growing weaker, he said the movement was about securing a better future for Ladakh, protecting its fragile environment and ensuring that the region’s concerns were heard.
The Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike has drawn widespread attention across the country, with many expressing concern over his health while backing his demands. His protest has once again brought issues such as Ladakh’s constitutional safeguards, climate protection and sustainable development into the national conversation.
As Wangchuk remains under medical supervision, attention is now shifting to both his recovery and the future of the movement he helped build. While the hunger strike has paused for now, the debate over Ladakh’s future and the demands raised by the activist is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
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