ISLAMABAD: Indian opposition leaders, activists and public figures on Saturday criticized the forcible removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from his hunger strike in New Delhi, accusing the government of suppressing a peaceful protest by force.
Delhi police forcibly moved Wangchuk to a hospital over “health concerns” after 20 days of his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
Wangchuk, 59, has been fasting since June 28 to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and protest against irregularities in examinations and “paper leaks”.
‘Sign of fear’
Actor Prakash Raj accused the government of acting like a dictatorship, saying the world was witnessing a "coward government" that refused to engage in dialogue with the youth and has chosen force over dialogue with protesting students.
"Forcibly taking away Sonam Wangchuk and disrupting students' peaceful protest is a sign of fear," he wrote on X.
‘Hiding behind sheets’
Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in a post on X questioned why police "dragged him away hiding behind sheets" when Wangchuk was not a criminal and had wanted to join the march to the Parliament rather than go to the hospital. The CJP called for Jantar Mantar-style protest sites to be set up in every state and district.
‘Regime that believes in dictatorship’
Political scientist Yogendra Yadav said that the government could not hide its actions behind sheets and curtains, adding that "a curtain cannot be drawn over the eyes of democracy," while Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray said the world was "watching our democracy ending," describing the action as proof that a "regime that believes in dictatorship" was breaking up peaceful protests against exam paper leaks instead of holding a simple dialogue on its own failures.
‘A coffin for the country’
Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav said BJP members were "coming with a white shroud as a coffin for the country," and that suppressing voices like Wangchuk's amounted to suppressing "the soul of the nation".
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh asked "what kind of thuggery is this" and warned Prime Minister Modi that "the arrogance of power doesn't last long," adding that the same youth being "beaten with batons" would eventually "uproot your throne."
Several other opposition figures had already extended support to Wangchuk's protest in the days leading up to Saturday's action, among them former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who had earlier demanded Pradhan's resignation and suggested Wangchuk himself be made education minister.
Restricted access at hospital
Supporters also raised concerns about Wangchuk's treatment after he was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.
CJP’s twitter handle said "Peak Dictatorship" was unfolding at the hospital, claiming Wangchuk's wife was not permitted to carry her phone into his room, that his medical reports were not being shared with the family, and that no personal lawyers or doctors were being allowed to see him.
"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," a deputy commissioner of Delhi police said in a statement.
"While complying with the orders... the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued," the statement added.
"We request the protestors at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest."
Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, said on X that no medication or intravenous treatment should be administered to Wangchuk without the consent of his family and the doctors who had been monitoring his condition throughout the hunger strike.
Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has now begun an indefinite hunger strike.
Organizers also said the planned "Chalo Sansad" march to Parliament on July 20 will go ahead as scheduled.
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