JP Nadda, Jitendra Singh visit Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta as activist continues fast: Report

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh visited Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Tuesday night to enquire about the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, news agency ANI mentioned sources as saying.

The visit came after the Delhi High Court ordered Wangchuk’s transfer from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta earlier in the day while he continued his indefinite hunger strike.

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Wangchuk, who has been on a fast since June 28, remained on hunger strike despite the hospital shift. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, said he would continue the fast in solidarity with students who were allegedly injured during the police action during Monday’s protest in Delhi.

The transfer followed a petition filed by Angmo before the Delhi High Court.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia directed Wangchuk’s immediate transfer after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the court that the Centre had no objection to the move.

The court also directed Medanta Hospital to constitute a specialised medical team to oversee Wangchuk’s treatment. It instructed the activist to follow the medical advice prescribed by doctors while remaining under continuous medical supervision.

Meanwhile, protests in support of Wangchuk resumed at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday.

More than 5,000 protesters gathered at the site a day after clashes between demonstrators and Delhi Police during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ march towards Parliament.

The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which is leading the agitation, said the protest would continue indefinitely but announced that no further marches towards Parliament would be organised. The party alleged that protesters were subjected to excessive police force during Monday’s demonstration.