Climate activist and educator Sonam Wangchuk on Friday sharply rebuked critics who questioned why he ended his 26-day hunger strike without securing the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and described a harrowing experience of being held under tight guard in hospital. In a video posted on YouTube, Wangchuk said he was hurt by those who asked why he broke the fast before students and leaders of the Kakoroch Janata Party, and argued that critics did not understand the constraints he faced while detained at Safdarjung Hospital.
Wangchuk said authorities kept strict surveillance on him in hospital and allowed only three relatives to meet him, leaving him barely able to communicate. He accused officials of delaying his transfer to Medanta for nearly five hours despite an order from the Delhi High Court. He also released footage that shows him arguing with police who prevented him from leaving the hospital even after the court direction, and said he lay down in a corridor in protest and told officers to arrest him.
Explaining why he ended the hunger strike without forcing the minister’s resignation, Wangchuk said the government agreed to two of his demands: compensation for the family of the person who died by suicide and a full parliamentary debate on the matter. However, he said the government refused to provide a written assurance that it would not take legal action against protesters associated with the Kakoroch Janata Party. That refusal, he said, was decisive.
Wangchuk emphasized that his priority was to protect students and youth from legal reprisals rather than to secure an immediate resignation. He said he did not want the students and party activists to face court cases and believed protecting them was more urgent than the minister stepping down. He also cited fears of escalating violence as another reason for ending the fast and denied allegations by some politicians that he had struck a secret deal with the BJP.
The hunger strike began at Jantar Mantar with backing from the Kakoroch Janata Party after allegations of question-paper tampering surfaced against the Education Minister. Wangchuk was reportedly taken to hospital by force on the 21st day of his fast. Protests intensified nationwide after police violence against students, and a large crowd gathered at Jantar Mantar on July 20 for a march to Parliament. Talks between the government and protesters are reportedly ongoing, but demonstrators have said the agitation will continue until the minister resigns.
Original Source: https://assam.nenow.in/sonam-wangsuk-has-been-detained-like-north-korea-in-hospitals/
Category: দেশ,শীর্ষ সংবাদ
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Publish Date: 2026-07-25 10:01:00
