New Delhi: Delhi Police forcefully evicted climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar on the twenty first day of his indefinite hunger strike. Acting on court directives and medical advice, authorities shifted him to Safdarjung Hospital. Wangchuk had been fasting since June 28, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the massive NEET paper leak controversies.
The eviction witnessed minor scuffles between protesters and police personnel. The police action immediately drew severe criticism from opposition leaders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condemned the move, stating the core principles of the current government are untruth and violence. He emphasised that issues like paper leaks and rising education costs are critical for the future of India. Similarly, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal termed the police action a defeat for the government, suggesting authorities should have initiated a dialogue instead of crushing a peaceful movement. Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Dimple Yadav and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray also echoed these sentiments, calling the eviction a blatant suppression of democracy.
Following the eviction, Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke announced he would take over the indefinite fast. Dipke alleged that police removed Wangchuk secretly under the cover of bedsheets. However, drama unfolded at Jantar Mantar on Saturday when an unidentified woman threw ink at Dipke while he was addressing the gathering. Onlookers immediately caught the woman and handed her over to Delhi Police, who are currently investigating her motives. Despite the chaos, Dipke confirmed that the planned protest march on July 20 will proceed as scheduled.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk wife Gitanjali J Angmo expressed deep concern over his medical care. In a letter to the Safdarjung Hospital administration, she accused them of withholding medical reports and denying access to his regular monitoring doctors. Demanding his transfer to a hospital of their choice, she stated the lack of transparency had shattered her trust. The matter has also reached the Supreme Court. Advocate Narendra Mishra has written to the Chief Justice of India, seeking an urgent hearing as a Public Interest Litigation to protect the fundamental rights of the protesters and address the systemic corruption in national entrance examinations.