Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk forcibly hospitalized after 20-day hunger strike

Sonam Wangchuk, a 59-year-old Indian activist and educationist, was forcibly removed from his protest site in Delhi on Saturday after a 20-day hunger strike that left him frail and in severe pain. Dozens of police and paramilitary personnel swooped in on the stage where Wangchuk was lying, covered him with bedsheets, and whisked him away in an ambulance. The activist had been consuming nothing but salt and water, losing more than 9 kilograms.

Protest in Support of Cockroach Janta Party

Wangchuk was demonstrating in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical movement demanding educational reforms following exam paper leaks. The CJP, founded by Abhijeet Dipke, has gained massive social media traction. Wangchuk had planned to join a march to India's parliament on Monday, insisting he would participate despite his deteriorating health. “I’ve grown weak from the outside but I’m strong from within,” he told supporters at Jantar Mantar, the historic protest venue.

Police Cite Court Order and Health Concerns

Police officials said the removal was carried out in compliance with a Delhi High Court order from Thursday, which directed the federal government to monitor Wangchuk’s health and provide necessary treatment. Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Sharma stated that Wangchuk was moved to a government hospital for “much-needed medical intervention” and is under medical supervision. CJP founder Dipke, who had been by Wangchuk’s side, said he was not informed where Wangchuk was taken. The activist had refused to end his hunger strike despite growing calls to do so, even joking that if he died before the march, his “ghost would join the march.”

Broader Protests and Political Pressure

The CJP began in May as a satirical response to irregularities in India’s top entrance exams, including a paper leak that forced the cancellation of a key medical exam. Protesters, who call themselves cockroaches, demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has dismissed the movement as “the B-team of disruptive elements.” The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not engaged with the protesters, but opposition leaders have pressured it to act. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited Wangchuk on Thursday, appealing to the government to listen to student demands. “Every year, exam papers get leaked and youth pay the price,” Kejriwal said.

What’s Next for the Movement?

It remains unclear whether the CJP will proceed with the planned march to parliament without Wangchuk. With the activist now hospitalized, the movement faces a critical juncture. Observers say the government’s handling of the protests could have implications for youth sentiment ahead of upcoming elections. Wangchuk’s hunger strike, a traditional form of protest in India, has drawn attention to systemic issues in the education sector, but his forced hospitalization may shift the focus from policy demands to civil liberties.