Sonam Wangchuk

The Resident Doctors' Association of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital have urged President Droupadi Murmu to safeguard patient rights, citing reports that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was allegedly not allowed to avail Leave Against Medical Advice (LAMA) despite being a "competent patient". In a representation submitted on Monday, the Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) said that if the reports were accurate, they raised serious concerns regarding informed consent, personal liberty and constitutional rights. It asserted that hospitals are institutions of healing and should not be perceived as places of detention except where restrictions are expressly authorised by law and carried out in accordance with due process. The association sought the President's intervention to uphold constitutional rights, medical ethics, patient autonomy and the independence of public healthcare institutions, besides demanding an independent inquiry into the reported events at .

Activist Sonam Wangchuk's vital parameters remain stable but he continues to refuse intravenous fluids and glucose despite repeated medical advice, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said on Tuesday. In a health bulletin issued at 9 am, the hospital said all necessary medical care is being provided, and his clinical condition remains under close and continuous assessment. "Sonam Wangchuk continues to receive medical treatment at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of experts from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi. "At present, Shri Wangchuk's vital parameters remain stable. However, his blood sugar levels continue to remain on the lower side. His serum potassium level as analysed from a sample collected last night stands at 3.2 mEq/L, and he continues to have persistent pancytopenia, characterized by anaemia and low leukocyte counts. These clinical and laboratory parameters warrant continued close monitoring through ...

Activist Sonam Wangchuk announced on Monday that he would continue his indefinite hunger strike, saying the police action against protesters during the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) "Sansad Chalo" march has prompted him to extend the fast until youth leaders are allowed to meet parliamentarians or he is permitted to do so from the hospital. In a handwritten statement issued from the Safdarjung Hospital, Wangchuk said, "Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the parliamentarians at the Sansad Bhawan or I am allowed to meet them here at the hospital." "Hopefully, the government will fix accountability for the Education Minister before that," he added. Wangchuk said he is "touched and moved" by the manner in which the protesters have maintained peace despite "provocation". "I appeal to the government and the police force to resolve the issue by simply allowing the

India accounted for more than half of South Asia's protest demonstrations in recent years, with movements ranging from student agitations to farmers' protests

Hunger strikes have shaped India's history, but what do they do to the human body? Doctors explain when health risks become life-threatening, and why recovery must be gradual

Delhi Police used sticks and batons to disperse hundreds of students and youth activists marching from Mandi House Metro Station towards Jantar Mantar in an attempt to reach the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest site on Monday, eyewitnesses said. The protesters, including a large number of women, raised slogans against the Centre while proceeding towards Jantar Mantar. Heavy deployment of Delhi Police personnel was seen in the area as police sought to prevent the march from advancing. There was no immediate official statement from the police on the reported use of force or any detentions.

CJP founder Abhijit Dipke broke his fast with a glass of juice before joining the protest march to Parliament

Activist Sonam Wangchuk's vital parameters are stable but his blood parameters require close clinical observation, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said on Monday. The hospital said Wangchuk remains under continuous medical management and under the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of experts. "Sonam Wangchuk continues to receive comprehensive medical care at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. His vital parameters remain stable. Blood parameters continue to warrant close clinical observation. Wangchuk remains under continuous medical management and the close supervision of a multidisciplinary team of experts," the health bulletin issued by the hospital at 10 am said. "Based on the clinical assessment of the treating teams from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS, New Delhi, continued medical intervention and uninterrupted clinical monitoring remain necessary to ensure early detection and timely management of any potential complications. He is receiving all required ...

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das signaled the organisation's willingness to engage in talks with the government regarding their long-standing demands for examination reforms

Around 20,000 people had gathered at and around Jantar Mantar on Sunday night, even before the scheduled mobilisation for the protest.

Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo on Monday moved the Delhi High Court to appeal against an order refusing to interfere with the fasting activist's ongoing treatment at Safdarjung Hospital. In her appeal, Angmo contended that the single judge's Sunday order illegally confines Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital without any arrest and effectively directs that neither the activist nor his wife has decisive authority in determining his medical treatment. The appeal said that the order does not address "informed consent" or one's right to accept or reject any medical treatment. In a special Sunday hearing, Justice Mini Pushkarna had refused to interfere with Wangchuk's treatment at Safdarjung Hospital here, stating that the government's removal of the fasting activist from Jantar Mantar to a government hospital cannot be called arbitrary. The single judge had opined that no interim order to immediately transfer the activist was required at this stage. The observation came on a petit

Wangchuk said he would end his hunger strike if govt accepts accountability for education system failures or MPs assure him that education accountability will be raised during the Monsoon Session

The Delhi High Court on Sunday refused to interfere with activist Sonam Wangchuk's treatment at Safdarjung Hospital here. Justice Mini Pushkarna said no interim order was required at this stage on a petition by Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, seeking permission to shift him to a private facility. The petition will be heard next on July 24. In a special hearing held on Sunday, Justice Pushkarna said Safdarjung doctors were closely monitoring the fasting activist, and it could not be said that any force was being used against him in violation of his bodily integrity. The judge also said the government's removal of Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital cannot be called arbitrary. Justice Pushkarna further observed that Wangchuk's wife, his brother, and his brother-in-law have been given round-the-clock access to him. She issued notice to the Centre, Safdarjung Hospital, and the city police on Angmo's plea seeking his transfer to a private facility. Additional Solici

As Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike galvanises support, the CJP faces a defining test over whether its movement can sustain momentum beyond its strongest symbol

Activist Sonam Wangchuk will call off his indefinite hunger strike if political leaders meet him at the Safdarjung Hospital and assure him that the issue of education accountability will be raised during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning Monday, his wife Gitanjali Angmo said on Sunday. Addressing protesters at the Jantar Mantar, where the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has been spearheading a movement against the alleged NEET paper leak, seeking education reforms, Angmo said Wangchuk has conveyed that he would end his fast provided there is a commitment from political parties to take up the issue in Parliament. "If political leaders meet Sonam at the hospital and assure him that they will raise the issue of education accountability during the Monsoon Session, he will end his hunger strike tomorrow," Angmo said. She also conveyed Wangchuk's appeal to the supporters of the movement ahead of the CJP's proposed 'Chalo Sansad' march on Monday, urging them to maintain peace and ...

Gitanjali J Angmo has sought permission to shift Sonam Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital, alleging that the family is being denied a transfer

Activist Sonam Wangchuk is being given the "required medical intervention" at the Safdarjung Hospital here and a team of experts is closely monitoring his condition as his blood parameters remain marginally altered due to the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, the hospital said on Sunday. This comes a day after the hospital had stated that Wangchuk has refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and all medications despite repeated counselling by the treating team and an independent AIIMS expert, while his family is yet to provide consent for the recommended medical intervention. Wangchuk was on Saturday taken forcibly to Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police on the 21st day of his hunger strike. He has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy. In a health bulletin, the hospital said, ..

Angmo slammed the hospital over the lack of transparency, alleging that the hospital is neither allowing her to get a second opinion at another lab nor allowing her to take his blood sample

The Congress on Saturday attacked the government over the "removal" of activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest, with Rahul Gandhi saying the core tenets of the Narendra Modi dispensation are "asatya and hinsa (falsehood and violence)". Attacking the BJP, the opposition party also said it was a shame that the world's largest democracy was being "ruled" by the most undemocratic and anti-democratic political party in the world. In a post in Hindi on X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, "Be it Professor G.D. Agarwal, who sat on a fast-unto-death for 111 days to save Mother Ganga, or the Olympic wrestlers from Haryana; Be it our 750 farmers who feed the nation, Dalits and Adivasis, or the 25 youths and their families who fell victim to exam paper leaks; this authoritarian government has spared no one." In their eyes, anyone who raises their voice is branded "anti-national" or a "parasite", Kharge said, slamming the BJP-led government. "What transpired at Jantar

Activist Sonam Wangchuk who was taken to Safdarjung Hospital after a 20-day hunger strike has refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and other medications despite signs of dehydration and metabolic abnormalities, hospital authorities said on Saturday. He is being continuously monitored and counselled to accept treatment in the interest of his health, they said. Wangchuk, 59, was brought to the hospital by Delhi Police and admitted at 7:40 am with a history of fasting from solid food for 20 days and generalised weakness. There is no history of fainting attacks, the hospital said in health bulletin. At the time of admission, he was conscious with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation. Signs of dehydration were seen, it said. Blood gas analysis revealed compensated acidosis with decreased serum potassium with blood sugar of 78 mg/dl. Repeat serum potassium test was similar. Urinary ketones were 1+ at the time of admission which have increased to 3+ by 1 pm,