LIVE: Wangchuk refuses IV fluids; Rahul says core tenets of Modi govt ‘Asatya and Hinsa’
Woman hurls ink at CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who is now on hunger strike; Wangchuk taken to Safdarjung Hospital after doctors advise intervention, claim police
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in the national capital, was shifted to a hospital on Saturday (July 18) after his health deteriorated on day 21 of his fast, Delhi Police said.
"As per orders of Hon'ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. While complying with the orders of Hon'ble High Court the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued, however police took maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely," the police said in a statement.
Also read: Wangchuk says lost 20 pc of body
The police also appealed to the protesters to end their agitation, saying, "We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest."
CJP founder 'under detention'
Soon after the police action, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke alleged that the protesters were subjected to a police crackdown.
"I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police," Dipke said in a post on X.
In another post, he alleged that the police were beating protesters and forcibly taking Wangchuk away.
Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.
His health had shown a steady decline over the past three weeks. Doctors said he had lost nearly 9.5 kg since the beginning of the hunger strike, while his blood pressure and blood sugar levels had remained under close monitoring.
The Delhi High Court has been monitoring the medical condition of Wangchuk and has directed that his health be regularly assessed and that appropriate medical intervention be provided if required.
On Friday night, Wangchuk had said he was still determined to continue the fast despite his worsening condition, claiming he had "lost 20 per cent of my body" during the 20-day hunger strike. "Governments have fallen over the price of onions.
"I have lost 20 per cent of my body. It is time for this government to listen to the voice of the youth," he had said in a video message, while reiterating his support for the students' movement.
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Live Updates
- 18 July 2026 4:44 PM IST
Vishal Dadlani: People of my country, when will you wake up?
Singer Vishal Dadlani has expressed his disappointment over the way educationist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital from the protest spot where he has been on an indefinite hunger strike.
Dadlani shared a video on his Instagram handle and said he was speechless. “Have you ever seen such a thing? Sonam ji was forcibly taken away. These people are ruining this country, this is... It breaks my heart,” he is heard saying in the video.
“People of my country, when will you wake up? If you don’t wake up now, then when will you? I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to think. I just wish I was there to help him somehow. My head is bursting with anger right now,” he added.
- 18 July 2026 4:36 PM IST
Centre suppressing dissent as it's rattled over rising public anger: Pilot
Congress leader Sachin Pilot has accused the Central government of avoiding dialogue and suppressing dissent after being on the back foot over rising public anger on issues related to the education system.
Talking to reporters during a visit to his constituency Tonk, he said it was surprising that the government was not willing to talk to activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar since June 28, nor accept his demands.
“The government is not ready to talk to Sonam Wangchuk ji nor accept his demands. When pressure is building from across the country on the issues for which he was on a hunger strike, the government appears rattled,” Pilot told reporters.
Instead of engaging in dialogue, he said, the government forcibly removed a person who was on a peaceful hunger strike.
“This shows the government neither wants to fulfil the demands nor engage in dialogue. No representative went to speak to Wangchuk or understand the issues. Instead of resolving the matter, they removed him. This is very unfortunate,” he said.
Pilot claimed the government is rattled by the growing public sentiment against it, asserting that the anger among youth over issues such as paper leaks and lack of accountability would not subside.
“Young people want accountability and action against those responsible for paper leaks. They want transparency and opportunities. The government should make its stand clear, including on the demand for the education minister's resignation,” he said.
- 18 July 2026 4:18 PM IST
Wangchuk refuses IV fluids, medicines
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was taken to Safdarjung Hospital after 20 days of a hunger strike, has refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and other medications despite signs of dehydration and metabolic abnormalities, hospital authorities have reportedly claimed.
He is being continuously monitored and counselled to accept treatment in the interest of his health, PTI reported citing hospital sources.
At the time of admission at 7.40 am, he was conscious with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. Signs of dehydration were seen, the hospital said in health bulletin.
Blood gas analysis revealed compensated acidosis with decreased serum potassium with blood sugar of 78 mg/dl. Repeat serum potassium test was similar. Urinary ketones were 1+ at the time of admission which have increased to 3+ by 1 pm, it said.
“Although intravenous fluids were advised but the patient has refused all intravenous fluids, oral rehydration fluid or any other medication. He is being continuously monitored and counselled for treatment in best interest of his health,” the statement said.
Doctors are reportedly counselling his family to allow treatment to begin without further delay.
Shortly after his hospitalisation, Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, asked the hospital not to administer any treatment without her consent and sought his discharge, alleging a lack of transparency in his medical care.
She claimed Wangchuk was “absolutely fine”, but the Safdarjung Hospital has declined to share copies of medical reports despite repeated requests. She also asserted that the proposed Parliament march on July 20 will go ahead as planned with his participation.
- 18 July 2026 3:57 PM IST
Wangchuk's doctor says activist's physicians, advocates were barred from meeting him
Nitin Dighe, the doctor of activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was taken by the police to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday morning amid his indefinite hunger strike, said neither the protester's doctors nor advocates were allowed to meet him so far, ANI reported.
"His wife is here and they are allowing her. I asked them why they have kept him here, we were told that he is showing potassium deficiency. I had taken his blood sample at 3 pm yesterday and potassium was normal at that time. It was 4.8, higher than the normal value of 3.5. Now, they are saying the value has dropped," he was quoted as saying.
"When his wife is asking for a report, they are not giving one to her. This is suspicious, so I am collecting his blood and taking it for a report," he said, adding that he will share the report with the media. "We do not trust the Govt lab.," Dighe added.
- 18 July 2026 3:45 PM IST
Kejriwal urges citizens to join Jantar Mantar protest after cops whisk Wangchuk away
Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday appealed to citizens to take part in the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar after activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to the Safdarjung Hospital by Delhi Police. He urged them to stand with those fasting for reforms in the country's examination system.
The appeal came hours after the fasting protester was taken to the hospital. His indefinite hunger strike entered its 21st day on Saturday.
Following his removal from the protest site, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke announced that he would continue the agitation by beginning an indefinite hunger strike at the same venue.
In a video message posted on X, Kejriwal said Wangchuk and Dipke were not on hunger strike for themselves but for students across the country. "If they are sitting at Jantar Mantar for your children, why are you sitting at home? Why aren't you sitting with them at Jantar Mantar?" he asked.
In another video message hours ago, Kejriwal accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of insulting Wangchuk and said he should have spoken with the activist.
- 18 July 2026 3:33 PM IST
Doctors urge Wangchuk's family to allow treatment as protester's health risks rise
Sources said Wangchuk is under close medical observation at Safdarjung Hospital while doctors counsel his family to allow treatment to begin without further delay. Shortly after his hospitalisation, Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo had asked the hospital not to administer any treatment without her consent. She also sought his discharge, alleging a lack of transparency in his medical care.
"Sonam Wangchuk remains under close medical observation at Safdarjung Hospital after a prolonged fast. Doctors have found dehydration, low potassium and rising ketone levels, which can increase during fasting but, when significantly elevated along with dehydration, may pose a risk to kidney function and other metabolic complications," a source said.
"Hospital authorities are continuously counselling the family to allow treatment to begin without further delay," it added.
- 18 July 2026 1:45 PM IST
Chaos at Jantar Mantar as woman thrown ink-like liquid at CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke
Chaos erupted at Jantar Mantar on Saturday after a woman threw an ink-like liquid at Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke while he was addressing a gathering at the protest site.
The incident briefly disrupted the programme as supporters rushed towards the stage, triggering commotion.
The woman's identity and the motive behind the act were not immediately known.
- 18 July 2026 1:28 PM IST
Congress MP Venugopal on Wangchuk's removal: 'Highly condemnable act'
Congress MP KC Venugopal slams Modi government over action against Sonam Wangchuk, says Opposition will continue to protest, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
- 18 July 2026 1:05 PM IST
Blot on democracy, Constitution: Congress slams police action at Jantar Mantar
The Congress on Saturday criticised the police action at Jantar Mantar, following which activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital, describing it as a "blot" on the country's democracy and the Constitution.
Attacking the BJP, the opposition party also said it was a shame that the world's largest democracy was being "ruled" by the most undemocratic and anti-democratic political party in the world.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Be it Professor G.D. Agarwal, who sat on a fast-unto-death for 111 days to save Mother Ganga, or the Olympic wrestlers from Haryana; Be it our 750 farmers who feed the nation, Dalits and Adivasis, or the 25 youths and their families who fell victim to exam paper leaks; this authoritarian government has spared no one." In their eyes, anyone who raises their voice is branded "anti-national" or a "parasite", Kharge said, slamming the BJP-led government.
"What transpired at Jantar Mantar today is yet another blot on our democracy and Constitution," the Congress chief said.
The "Chhatron ki Goonj (voice of the students)" has begun to resonate from Kota and Dehradun, and it will certainly reach the very doorstep of Delhi, he said.
Congress' media and publicity department head, Pawan Khera, said the Constitution guarantees the right to dissent, but 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," Khera said.
From dragging away women wrestlers to manhandling ex-servicemen, this government has repeatedly demonstrated its contempt for the Constitution, he alleged.
"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," Khera said.
"It is a shame that the world's largest democracy is being 'ruled' by the most undemocratic and anti-democratic political party in the world," he said.
- 18 July 2026 12:58 PM IST
Wangchuk's wife questions police action, says he is still fasting
Activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, says, "Regarding the High Court order, the order never mandated hospitalisation. It simply stated that an individual's health is paramount and must be monitored at regular intervals; it did not order hospitalisation. So, this is not in accordance with the High Court order. No treatment is underway right now. Only observation and tests are being conducted, and we are actually going to get the tests done at an external lab. Since they aren't providing the reports we requested, and regarding the figures they are citing like the potassium level reaching 2.9. It was 4.3 yesterday, so it couldn't have changed to that today. We want to cross-check this with another lab before administering any medication. He is still fasting; the fast is continuing because he isn't consuming any sugar. He is only taking the water with salt that he was consuming earlier... I am grateful that the government cared enough to bring him here, but we will handle the next steps ourselves; there is no need for government interference in this matter. He is definitely weak and losing muscle mass—which happens during any fast—but he is alert and very strong."
