Delhi: A significant development unfolded early Saturday morning amidst the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar, led by the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP), demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Delhi Police removed social activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site and took him to a hospital, creating a chaotic scene at the venue.
Protesters alleged that the police forcibly removed him and engaged in a scuffle with the students. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police stated that the action was taken based on a Delhi High Court order and medical advice.
Hours before the police action, late Friday night, Sonam Wangchuk had shared a video on social media. He stated that his hunger strike had reached the 20-day mark and he had lost approximately 20 percent of his body weight during this period. He explained that the body first consumes fat reserves, followed by muscle weakening, and eventually, vital organs begin to be affected. In the video, he questioned whether the education and future of the country’s children were considered less important than onion prices.
He noted that in the past, India had witnessed massive public movements over rising onion prices, which even led to changes in government. He argued that the public should similarly come forward regarding serious issues like the future of students and paper leaks. Appealing to people to join the ‘Parliament March’ on July 20 in large numbers, he emphasized that the common people are the movement’s greatest strength.
Those associated with the movement alleged that early Saturday morning, the police first arrived at the accommodation of the movement’s convener, Abhijit Dipke, and detained him there. Subsequently, the police reached Jantar Mantar and took Sonam Wangchuk to the hospital. Protesters claimed that a scuffle broke out with students during the police action. Some individuals also alleged a lathi-charge, although there has been no confirmation regarding this from the police. After Sonam Wangchuk was taken to the hospital, the protesting students formed a human chain around Neha, Amen, and Manish, who were on a hunger strike. The protesters stated that the three students were on the 21st day of their fast-unto-death and feared they, too, might be forcibly removed. The students appealed to the public to come to Jantar Mantar and support the movement peacefully.
This protest at Jantar Mantar has been ongoing for 30 days. The demonstrators are demanding accountability for paper leak incidents across the country, reforms within the National Testing Agency (NTA), and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Sonam Wangchuk had also been observing a fast-unto-death in support of this movement.
