Delhi Police shifted activist Sonam Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital early Saturday after he completed a multi-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar [1], [4].
The hospitalization marks a critical escalation in protests against India's national examination system, highlighting deep frustrations over alleged corruption and administrative failures in student testing.
Wangchuk, a climate and education activist, began the strike to support the Cockroach Janata Party [1], [2]. The group is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following an alleged leak of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) exam papers [1], [2]. Beyond the specific leak, the protest focused on broader educational mismanagement affecting millions of students [2].
Reports on the exact duration of the strike vary. Some sources said the strike lasted 20 days [1], while others said it lasted 21 days [2]. A previous report from July 16 indicated the strike had reached 19 days at that time [3].
Police cleared the protest site at Jantar Mantar as Wangchuk was moved to Safdarjung Hospital for medical care [2], [4]. The activist's health had become a focal point for supporters as the strike extended past the three-week mark.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not issued a public statement regarding the demands for his resignation. The Cockroach Janata Party continues to call for systemic reforms to prevent future exam leaks, and ensure transparency in the Indian education system [1], [2].
“Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital after completing a multi‑day hunger strike.”
The hospitalization of a high-profile figure like Sonam Wangchuk amplifies the visibility of the NEET paper leak scandal. By linking the protest to the Cockroach Janata Party's demands, the movement transforms a specific administrative failure into a broader critique of the national education infrastructure, putting sustained pressure on the Ministry of Education to implement systemic transparency.
