On her 21st day, educator and climate activist Sonam WangchukThe indefinite hunger strike took an unexpected turn when the police removed him from the protest site at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and took him to Safdarjung Hospital. The move drew sharp reactions from the film fraternity, with Vishal Dadlani i Prakash Raj among those who supported Wangchuk and questioned the action of the authorities. Delhi Policehowever, he maintained that the hospitalization was carried out on medical advice and in accordance with the directions of the Delhi High Court, citing concerns over his deteriorating health.
Sonam Wangchuk promises to continue fast, asks for March 20 July
Things turned tense at the protest site after CJP member Abhijeet Dipke said the police forcibly removed him and took action against the protesters. This came a day after Wangchuk said he had lost almost 20 percent of his body weight but would not stop his fast until his demands were met. After 20 days of fasting, Wangchuk released a video asking people across the country to join the CJP’s “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20. He described it as a peaceful movement and said its success would depend on how many people marched in Parliament in support of the students.
Vishal Dadlani reacts angrily to Sonam Wangchuk’s dismissal
Reacting to the development, singer Vishal Dadlani posted a video on social media, showing his anger that Wangchuk had been removed from the protest site. He said, “Dekhi hain kabhi aapne aisi kayarta? Sonam ji ko strongly utha ke le gaye hain. Iss desh ka joh yeh log kar rahe hain, this is… It breaks my heart. Simple desh walon, kab jaagoge? Ab nahi jaagoge toh kab jaagoge? I don’t know what to say. fatt raha hain mera gusse se iss waqt.”
Prakash Raj calls government’s action ‘shameful’
Prakash Raj also reacted strongly, sharing a screenshot of the incident on X. He wrote: “The world is witnessing a cowardly government that does not want to dialogue with the youth but wants to behave like dictators. Take @Wangchuk66 by force and disrupt the peaceful protest of students. What a sign of fear #justasking.” In a follow-up post, she added, “Parde ke peeche kya hai Chappan inch ka Dara hua Nangapan (What’s behind the curtain is the scared nudity of ‘fifty-six’ chest) What’s behind the screen 56 inches of Trembling Nuesa #justasking.“
Sonam Wangchuk’s health deteriorates in the middle of the third week of fasting
Ladakh education reformer Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar since June 28, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and other exam-related irregularities, a protest organized jointly with the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). The demonstration has also refocused on student suicides and the growing anger surrounding the exam controversy. Now in its third week, the fast has raised serious concerns for Wangchuk’s health: he has reportedly lost almost 9kg and continues to be closely monitored by doctors. Although his EKG remains normal, he has admitted that the prolonged fast has drained him considerably, leaving visible signs of muscle loss.
Sonam Wangchuk refuses to finish quickly despite health problems
Despite calls from doctors and well-wishers to end his fast, Wangchuk has stood his ground. Instead of calling off the protest, he has urged people across the country to join the peaceful ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20, stressing that the success of the movement is based on the support it receives from the public.
The film industry is rallying behind Sonam Wangchuk
Many people in the film industry have supported Wangchuk’s decision. Actors and filmmakers like Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Zeenat Aman, Shabana Azmi, Sonakshi SinhaVijay Varma, Abhay Deol, Anurag Kashyap, Omi Vaidya, Sayaji Shinde, Shreya Dhanwanthary, Swara Bhasker, Hrithik Roshan and Prakash Raj have all openly said that they support Wangchuk and his protest.