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Police on Wangchuk being moved to hospital

"Considering the delicate health condition of Shri Wangchuk and on medical advice, he was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for medical examination and further intervention as required," Delhi's Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sachin Sharma, said. 

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat slams Amit Shah

On Sonam Wangchuk being shifted to Safdarjung Hospital from Jantar Mantar protest site, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat told PTI, "What happened this morning with Sonam Wangchuk was an act of bulldozing democratic and constitutional values. This is done directly under the direction of Home Minister Amit Shah. This is a sign of dictatorship."

Kejriwal slams PM Modi for removing Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal says, "When I woke up this morning, I learned that Sonam Wangchuk had been removed in a highly improper manner. Attempts were made to break his hunger strike. Gandhiji undertook such prolonged fasts, yet even the British did not treat him this way. I want to ask Modi ji: what is it that these young people are demanding? They are the children of our nation. It is not right to treat them this way. All they are asking for is a good education system. They are asking for an end to paper leaks. They are asking for a robust examination system. Instead of addressing these issues, the government’s entire focus is on how to make their movement fail, how to discredit it, and how to humiliate it..."

Protesters slam police action at Jantar Mantar

"They came early in the morning in civil dress. When we asked who they were, they first said they were doctors. Later, they told us they had a High Court order to shift Sonam Wangchuk to the hospital. We requested them to wait until his vital checks were completed but they entered and took him away," a protester alleged after activist Sonam Wangchuk was removed from Jantar Mantar by Delhi Police.

"We were asking them to let his medical team examine him first. Nobody was informed beforehand. Everything happened in a rush," he claimed.

The protester alleged that several people sustained injuries in the scuffle that ensued.

"There was a lot of pushing. Many protesters got injured while trying to stop the police. I also received scratches during the scuffle," he said.

Another protester said they would continue to protest and support Wangchuk and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke.

"We stand with Sonam Wangchuk and Abhijit and will continue this protest. His removal from the site will not weaken our resolve. Our agitation for examination reforms and against paper leaks will go on," the protester said.

Congress hits out at BJP, Home Ministry for removing Wangchuk

"It is a shame that the world’s largest democracy is being ‘ruled’ by the most undemocratic and anti-democratic political party of the world," says Congress MP Pawan Khera.

CJP founder Dipke in tears

CJP founder in tears after Wangchuk was removed from the protest site.

Wangchuk weak due to prolonged fasting, dehydration but stable: Safdarjung Hospital

Sonam Wangchuk is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration but is currently stable, Safdarjung Hospital said on Saturday.

The activist was shifted to the government hospital early Saturday after his health deteriorated on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar here, with the police citing medical advice and directions of the Delhi High Court.

"Mr Sonam Wangchuck is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration. Although he is currently stable, he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his body parameters," the hospital said in a statement.

According to the statement, Wangchuk was admitted to the hospital at 7.40 am on Saturday.

Sharad Pawar slams Centre over 'irresponsible' handling of Wangchuk's hunger strike

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Saturday slammed the Centre for its "irresponsible" handling of activist Sonam Wangchuk’s agitation, claiming the government remained a bystander rather than addressing the genuine demands of students.

Speaking to reporters in Baramati, Pawar asserted that while the government moved to hospitalise Wangchuk as the situation became "uncontrollable", the protest would continue regardless of the action against the activist.

"The Centre didn't handle the situation carefully, and it impacted the future of several students. The government remained a bystander as other political parties came to support him (Wangchuk). Leaders from Congress, NCP (SP), including Supriya Sule and many others, paid a visit there (Jantar Mantar) and raised a common demand," Pawar said.

He said the demand was genuine and was for the betterment of the students, but none of the leaders from the government, despite being in Delhi, visited the protest site.

"It means that the government is irresponsible. This issue will not end here, as the Parliament session is scheduled to begin, it will be discussed there too," he said, adding that the protest will continue despite action against Wangchuk.

Dipke on Wangchuk hospitalisation: 'Police deliberately twisting High Court order'

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke told PTI, "High Court's order was that his health should be monitored; the doctors never said there was a need for immediate hospitalisation. In the evening, Sonam sir himself gave a statement saying he didn't need to be hospitalised yet. So the police are deliberately twisting the High Court order."

AAP slams Delhi Police for forcibly shifting Wangchuk to hospital, using force on protesters

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday strongly criticised the shifting of activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital by Delhi Police, alleging use of force against protesters and appealing to students to continue supporting his agitation.

Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that Wangchuk, who had been on an indefinite fast for 21 days, was forcibly shifted to a hospital instead of his demands being addressed.

He claimed that no representative of the Centre had spoken to the activist during his fast and alleged that police used force against protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar.

Singh further alleged that the action was taken ahead of the protest's proposed march to Parliament on July 20 and appealed to the youth to continue supporting Wangchuk's agitation.

He said attempts to suppress the movement through police action would not succeed.

AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that police personnel in civil clothes entered the protest site and carried white bedsheets to block camera views during the operation, claiming that this was done to prevent any alleged manhandling of Wangchuk and other protesters from being captured on video.

AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha, in a post on X, alleged that governments with authoritarian tendencies fear mass movements and said attempts to suppress public protests ultimately prove counterproductive.

He said such movements cannot be brought to an end through force or intimidation.