Doctors warn that Sonam Wangchuk could die within two days. This grim forecast now anchors the Wangchuk force-feeding plea filed before the Delhi High Court. The petition demands swift medical action to save his life.
Lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini moved the court on behalf of the activist. He argued that authorities must hospitalise Wangchuk without further delay. Saini also asked the court to permit a liquid diet through force-feeding, if necessary.
Why Wangchuk Is Fasting
The protest traces back to a major examination scandal. Authorities cancelled the NEET-UG medical entrance exam ten days after it was conducted on May 3. It following the allegations that a “guess paper” had circulated, along with widespread claims of irregularities. The cancellation affected over 2.2 million aspirants, and officials held a re-test on June 21.
The fallout proved devastating for many families. Government data eventually showed that at least 13 student suicide cases emerged nationwide, and reports linked at least 93 suicides since 2021 to the intense pressure and financial strain of NEET preparation. These losses sparked the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a youth-led movement to demand accountability.
Founder Abhijeet Dipke has led the campaign since early June. He wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a June 20 rally, urging the government to pay ₹1 crore in compensation to families of students who died by suicide, alongside the education minister’s resignation. That rally grew into a continuous sit-in at Jantar Mantar.
Wangchuk joined the protest site on June 6 and escalated matters weeks later. He announced an indefinite hunger strike on June 28, describing it as “not the first but the final democratic expression of a movement,” according to Dipke. Even after the re-test, many protesters stayed on, arguing the movement had outgrown the original exam issue.
Numbers Behind the Crisis
Health bulletins paint an alarming picture. Wangchuk has shed 8.5 kg since June 28, when his fast began. His blood pressure has slipped to 109/70, well below a safe range. Blood sugar readings have dropped below 70 mg/dL on several occasions. Dizziness, muscle loss, and visible weakness now mark his daily condition. Volunteers say he struggles even to walk short distances.
Dipke has stayed by his side throughout the ordeal. “He is really struggling and in a lot of pain,” Dipke told reporters, reveals TOI. Still, Wangchuk insists his resolve remains firm despite the physical toll.
Government Silence Fuels Frustration
The petition accuses officials of ignoring the crisis entirely. It claims the government treats Wangchuk “like a hardcore criminal, terrorist or traitor.” No representative has visited the protest site for open talks, organisers say.
Public figures have joined calls for a resolution. Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, urged Wangchuk to end his fast in an open letter. Actors, activists, and opposition leaders have echoed similar appeals in recent days. Yet the standoff continues without any sign of dialogue. Officials have not confirmed whether they will act on the petition. The Delhi High Court has also not set a date for the hearing yet.
History adds weight to current concerns. Wangchuk spent 170 days in jail last year over separate protests in Ladakh. Authorities eventually dropped those charges and released him without trial.
For now, attention shifts back to the Delhi High Court. Judges must decide whether to order hospitalisation before time runs out. Meanwhile, supporters keep vigil at Jantar Mantar, hoping for a swift resolution.
This report is based on original coverage by The Times of India. Read the full article here.
Follow The World Times for more such updates!
