Indian authorities transferred activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital in New Delhi on Saturday after his health deteriorated during a hunger strike [1], [2].
Wangchuk's protest highlights growing public anger over systemic failures in India's national examination system and demands high-level government accountability for academic fraud.
The 59-year-old founder of the Cockroach Janta Party began his fast on June 28, 2026 [1]. He was removed from the Jantar Mantar protest site and taken to a medical facility, reported by some sources as Safdarjung Hospital, on July 18, 2026 [1], [2], [5], [6].
Reports vary on the duration of the strike, with most sources stating it lasted 20 days [1], while others cite 21 days [3]. There are also conflicting accounts regarding the nature of the transfer. Some reports state authorities acted in compliance with a court order [1], whereas other accounts describe the activist as being forcibly taken to the hospital [3], [7].
Wangchuk launched the strike to protest massive NEET-UG exam paper leaks that occurred in May 2026 [1]. He demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and called for broader government accountability regarding the leaks [1], [2].
Left-wing parties have condemned the removal of Wangchuk and the use of force against the ongoing protest [8]. The situation at Jantar Mantar escalated as police removed protesters from the site during the hospitalization process [3].
“Sonam Wangchuk was transferred to a hospital in New Delhi on Saturday after his health deteriorated.”
The hospitalization of Sonam Wangchuk underscores the tension between the Indian government and civil society over the integrity of national competitive exams. The NEET-UG leaks in May 2026 have created a crisis of confidence among students, and Wangchuk's use of a hunger strike, a historically potent form of protest in India, elevates the demand for ministerial accountability from a policy dispute to a human rights and public health issue.
