Sonam Wangchuk hospitalised after 21-day hunger strike over exam leaks

Authorities in India’s capital Delhi moved social activist Sonam Wangchuk to hospital against his will on Saturday, after his condition worsened on the 21st day of a hunger strike launched to demand the resignation of the federal education minister.

Wangchuk, 59, had been fasting since June 28 in solidarity with India’s youth Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan step down ‌over exam paper leaks in May that affected millions of students.

Wangchuk’s campaign has emerged as a rare public challenge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, drawing support across India and amplifying the activist’s demands through millions of views and shares on social media.

Television footage on Saturday showed dozens of security personnel, some in plain clothes, holding large white sheets before Wangchuk was taken away. Wangchuk had told government doctors on Friday that he did not wish to be moved to a hospital. On Saturday, he was refusing treatment, hospital authorities said.

“In compliance with the ⁠court’s order, and based on health conditions and medical advice, Mr Sonam Wangchuk has been moved from here to an appropriate government hospital for much-needed medical intervention,” Deputy Commissioner of ‌Police Sachin Sharma told reporters at the site.