Sonam Wangchuk health update: Activist refuses intravenous fluids, condition stable, says hospital

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike for the last 20 days at Jantar Mantar and was forcibly hospitalised by the Delhi Police, has refused to take intravenous fluids, Safdarjung Hospital said on Saturday.

Sharing Wangchuk’s health update, the hospital said that the activist was admitted with a history of fasting for 20 days from solid food and generalised weakness at 7.40 am today.

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At the time of admission, Wangchuk was conscious with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation but signs of dehydration were seen.

“Blood gas analysis revealed compensated acidosis with decreased serum potassium and a blood sugar of 78 mg/dl. Repeat Serum Potassium was similar. Urinary ketones were 1+ at the time of admission which have increased to 3+ by 1:00 pm,” the hospital said.

Doctors advised intravenous fluids to Wangchuk but he refused, continuing his hunger strike into the 21st day.

“…patient has refused all intravenous fluids, oral rehydration fluids or any other medication. He is being continuously monitored and counselled for treatment in best interest of his health,” the hospital update added.

Earlier today, Wangchuk was forcibly removed from the protest site and shifted to the Safdarjung Hospital following an early morning crackdown by the Delhi Police

Wangchuk, who joined the CJP protest on June 20, had been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike demanding Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the issue of paper leaks and student suicides.

However, his forceful removal from Jantar Mantar triggered a massive controversy with the Opposition Congress criticising the police action and accusing the BJP of denying democratic rights to citizens.

“Our Constitution guarantees the right to dissent. The Home Ministry appears determined to deny it. The Delhi Police reports directly to the Home Ministry – the very Ministry that appointed a new Police Commissioner in Delhi just yesterday. If today’s crackdown is his first brief, it sends a chilling message: political obedience takes precedence over Constitutional duty,” said Congress leader Pawan Khera, who had visited Jantar Mantar and met Wangchuk on Friday.

Khera accused the central government of usurping the fundamental democratic rights of the people in the name of maintaining law-and-order.

“Today’s actions lay bare this government’s mindset: peaceful protest is not a fundamental democratic right to be protected, but a law-and-order problem to be crushed,” he added.