Delhi police forcibly moved activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on Saturday due to health concerns after 20 days of his hunger strike against India's examination system. Wangchuk, 59, has been fasting since 28 June to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in medical entrance exams.
Protest and police intervention
A few hundred students had joined Wangchuk at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar in recent weeks, with protests organized by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party. As per orders from the high court and expert medical advice, Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital for essential care, according to a deputy commissioner of Delhi police. The police statement added that protesters tried to create obstruction, causing a slight commotion, and urged them to peacefully vacate the site.
A video showed confusion among supporters as police, carrying white sheets, hurriedly moved Wangchuk from the stage. The Delhi high court had ordered government doctors to monitor his health daily, stating that “the life of any citizen is precious” after a petition warned he might not survive without breaking his fast. The court ordered whatever medical intervention is needed to save his life.
Background and impact
Wangchuk, an engineer known for pioneering water conservation projects in the Himalayas, said hours before being moved: “Smaller movements have brought down many governments in India … and here it is about education.” Last month, about 2.2 million aspiring medical students sat for a re-examination after the previous test was scrapped due to a paper leak that sparked widespread outrage. The failure of the exam and a separate marking fiasco in high school tests have fueled youth protests, with opposition parties voicing support for Wangchuk.
