Delhi police took climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital after he fasted for approximately 20 days at Jantar Mantar [1].
The incident highlights the escalating tension between Indian climate activists and government authorities over land and environmental protections. Wangchuk is a prominent member of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has used high-profile protests to demand policy changes.
Wangchuk had been leading a hunger strike in New Delhi, with his health deteriorating as the protest continued [2]. Reports on the exact timing of his hospitalization vary; some sources said he was taken after 20 days of fasting [1], while others said the event occurred on day 21 [3].
The removal of the activist was captured on camera, leading to conflicting accounts of the event. The CJP said the pickup was forceful and not legally mandated [3]. Conversely, other reports said the Delhi police acted under a High Court order to ensure the activist received medical care [4].
Prior to his hospitalization, Wangchuk expressed a determination to continue his campaign. "I am not backing down," Wangchuk said [4].
The hospitalization occurred around the time of a planned CJP march to Parliament, which was scheduled for July 20, 2024 [1]. The activist's removal from the protest site effectively paused the immediate hunger strike action at Jantar Mantar, though the CJP continues to voice its grievances regarding the manner of his detention [4].
“"I am not backing down."”
The forced hospitalization of Sonam Wangchuk underscores the friction between the Indian state's duty of care and the right to political protest. By citing a court order to intervene in a hunger strike, the government can neutralize a high-visibility protest without officially arresting the leader, while activists view such moves as a tactic to dismantle grassroots momentum.
