Sonam Wangchuk forcibly hospitalised after 20-day hunger strike over India exam leaks
Delhi police removed the 59-year-old engineer and education activist from a protest site at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, 20 days into a hunger strike demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. His supporters call it a kidnapping.
The hunger strike and its demands
Sonam Wangchuk, a 59-year-old engineer and prominent conservationist, began fasting on 28 June at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar protest site. He demanded the resignation of federal Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him accountable for chronic paper leaks that have disrupted India's competitive examinations. The immediate trigger was the cancellation of a medical college entrance exam sat by roughly 2.2 million candidates after test questions were leaked in May. Several hundred students joined Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar in the following weeks.
Smaller movements have brought down many governments in India... and here it is about education.
The police intervention on day 20
On the morning of Saturday, 18 July, Delhi police officers carrying white sheets moved Wangchuk forcibly from his stage into an ambulance. A video posted by the Cockroach Janta Party showed officers in civilian clothes pushing through supporters. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma stated that the hospitalisation followed court orders and expert medical advice, given Wangchuk's deteriorating condition. The police acknowledged that a "slight commotion ensued" when protesters tried to obstruct the removal. Additional barriers and officers were deployed around Jantar Mantar afterward, and protesters were asked to vacate the site peacefully.
As per the orders of... high court and on expert medical advice due to deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care.
The Cockroach Janta Party and youth anger
The protest is part of a wider movement driven by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party, founded by Boston University student Abhijeet Dipke. The movement's name originates from a May remark by Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant, who compared unemployed young activists to "cockroaches" and "parasites." Supporters turned the insult into a symbol of resilience, building a viral online campaign that now counts millions of Instagram followers. The party demands comprehensive exam system reforms and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after the test cancellations.
They dragged Sonam sir away while hurling abuse at him.
The New York Times reported that Dipke said he was assaulted by police officers when he tried to enter the protest area. Hours after Wangchuk's removal, Dipke announced he would begin his own indefinite hunger strike and called for nationwide protests. Deutsche Welle reported that Dipke would also call for the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Court orders and Wangchuk's health
On Thursday, 16 July, the Delhi High Court ordered government doctors to monitor Wangchuk's health daily, stating that the "life of any citizen is precious." The court directive followed a petition by activist lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini warning that Wangchuk might not survive much longer without food. The court instructed authorities to intervene if medical treatment became necessary. Wangchuk had previously been detained for six months before his release in March, after protesting for autonomy for the Himalayan region of Ladakh.
Whatever medical intervention is needed to save Sonam Wangchuk's life should be done.
- Medical entrance exam cancelled after paper leak affecting 2.2 million candidates.
- Sonam Wangchuk begins hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, demanding Education Minister Pradhan's resignation.
- Delhi High Court orders daily medical monitoring of Wangchuk and authorises intervention if needed.
- Delhi police remove Wangchuk and transfer him to hospital on day 20 of his fast. Protests and a scuffle ensue.
- CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke announces his own indefinite hunger strike and calls for Modi's resignation.
Political reactions and next steps
Several opposition party members have voiced support for Wangchuk and the student activists. The Indian government has not formally responded to the demands as of Saturday. The Cockroach Janta Party alleged that Wangchuk was "forcibly kidnapped without his or his family's consent" two days before a planned march toward Parliament. The movement had intended to escalate its campaign as the monsoon session of Parliament approached, with Bloomberg reporting that authorities moved against protesters ahead of the session to contain pressure on Prime Minister Modi's government.
