Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday after police removed him from Jantar Mantar during the third week of his indefinite hunger strike. The hospital said he was stable but weak from prolonged fasting and dehydration and would require continued medical supervision.
The police action prompted fresh protests and sharp Opposition criticism, even as authorities denied allegations of a lathi charge or detentions. Cockroach Janta Party founding president Abhijeet Dipke has now begun an indefinite fast, while supporters say their proposed march on July 20 remains on schedule.
Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike: Latest updates
Even British did not treat Gandhi this way: Arvind Kejriwal
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal accused authorities of removing Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar in an “improper manner” and attempting to break his hunger strike. Drawing a comparison with Mahatma Gandhi’s prolonged fasts, Kejriwal claimed even British rulers had not acted in such a fashion.
He said the protesters were seeking an end to paper leaks and a more reliable education and examination system. Kejriwal alleged that the government was concentrating on defeating and discrediting the movement instead of addressing those demands.
Coercion against Wangchuk is Modi govt’s defeat: Arvind Kejriwal
AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the Centre of using force against Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters instead of opening talks with them. He said the government should address flaws in the country’s education and examination system rather than attempt to suppress the agitation.
“Such arrogance is not right,” the former Delhi chief minister said in a post on X, describing the action against Wangchuk as a defeat for the Modi government.
Sonam Wangchuk fully alert and stable; doctors treating dehydration
Sonam Wangchuk arrived at Safdarjung Hospital at around 7.40 am and is fully conscious with stable vital parameters, Medical Superintendent Dr Charu Bamba said. He remains weak from prolonged fasting and has mild dehydration affecting his electrolyte levels.
Wangchuk was initially examined by the Emergency Medicine Department and has since been admitted under the Department of Medicine. Doctors will continue monitoring him, correct his electrolyte levels and reassess his condition before deciding the next course.
AISF, SFI and AISA join Jantar Mantar protest; students form human chain
Members of AISF, SFI and AISA joined the Cockroach Janta Party protest at Jantar Mantar following Sonam Wangchuk’s hospitalisation. Students raised slogans and formed a human chain as police asked demonstrators to vacate the site.
The human chain was reportedly formed to shield protesters continuing their hunger strike, including JNU PhD scholar Neha Bora, from possible police action.
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke has begun an indefinite hunger strike and called on supporters to gather at Jantar Mantar ahead of the proposed July 20 march.
Sharad Pawar says Wangchuk protest will continue, issue to be raised in Parliament
NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar accused the Centre of failing to respond sensitively to Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike and remaining a “spectator” as the agitation intensified. He said Opposition parties had collectively supported Wangchuk’s demands, but no representative of the Union government visited him at the protest site.
Pawar claimed Wangchuk had been arrested and said the agitation would continue despite the police action. Delhi Police have not announced any arrest and say Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital on medical advice and under Delhi High Court directions.
Pawar said the Opposition would raise the issue during the upcoming session of Parliament.
Abhijeet Dipke begins indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar
Cockroach Janta Party founding president Abhijeet Dipke began an indefinite hunger strike following Sonam Wangchuk’s hospitalisation. He urged supporters to gather at Jantar Mantar and said the agitation would continue.
Dipke also said the proposed march on July 20 would proceed as scheduled. Members of the All India Students’ Federation and the Students’ Federation of India joined the protest.
Abhijeet Dipke begins indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar
Cockroach Janta Party founding president Abhijeet Dipke began an indefinite hunger strike following Sonam Wangchuk’s hospitalisation. He urged supporters to gather at Jantar Mantar and said the agitation would continue.
Dipke also said the proposed march on July 20 would proceed as scheduled. Members of the All India Students’ Federation and the Students’ Federation of India joined the protest.
watch | Delhi: Founding President of the Cockroach Janta Party, Abhijeet Dipke, says, "I am commencing my indefinite hunger strike starting today. I appeal to everyone: do not back down; this movement will only grow larger. They have made a grave mistake... I urge everyone to… pic.twitter.com/iCoB6jSOHQ
— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2026
Abhijeet Dipke begins indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar
Cockroach Janta Party founding president Abhijeet Dipke began an indefinite hunger strike following Sonam Wangchuk’s hospitalisation. He urged supporters to gather at Jantar Mantar and said the agitation would continue.
Dipke also said the proposed march on July 20 would proceed as scheduled. Members of the All India Students’ Federation and the Students’ Federation of India joined the protest.
Sonam Wangchuk stable but needs continuous monitoring: Safdarjung Hospital
Sonam Wangchuk is stable but requires continued observation and treatment after weeks of fasting, Safdarjung Hospital said. Doctors said he was weak because of prolonged fasting and dehydration.
The hospital said treatment would be needed to restore his body parameters. Wangchuk was admitted after being removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site by Delhi Police.
Wangchuk’s wife asks hospital to seek consent before treatment
Gitanjali J Angmo urged Safdarjung Hospital not to administer oral or intravenous treatment to her husband without consent. She said approval should first be obtained from her, Wangchuk’s family and the doctors who had monitored him during the hunger strike.
Angmo made the appeal after reaching the hospital where Wangchuk had been admitted. Hospital authorities have said he requires treatment to restore his body parameters.
Delhi Police deny lathi charge and detentions at Jantar Mantar
Delhi Police denied allegations that protesters were subjected to a lathi charge as Wangchuk was taken from Jantar Mantar. Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, Sachin Sharma also said no one had been detained.
Police said Wangchuk was shifted to a government hospital on medical advice and in compliance with Delhi High Court directions. Authorities acknowledged that a commotion occurred after some protesters allegedly tried to obstruct the operation.
Opposition leaders condemn police action against protesters
AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and Saurabh Bharadwaj accused the Centre of using police action to silence protests over examination irregularities. Bharadwaj alleged that personnel in plain clothes entered the protest site and attempted to prevent the operation from being recorded.
Trinamool Congress leader Sagarika Ghose condemned the action, while Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav called Wangchuk’s removal an assault on democracy. Delhi Police have rejected allegations of a lathi charge and said no protesters were detained.
Police clear Jantar Mantar protest site after Wangchuk hospitalise
Delhi Police asked protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar after Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital. A large number of personnel were deployed at the site as the remaining demonstrators were removed.
The police said the operation was carried out safely and with restraint. Protest organisers, however, alleged that students were lathi-charged and that Dipke was assaulted while trying to reach the site; police denied that any lathi charge took place.