Despite Sonam Wangchuk being admitted to the hospital, her fast continues. His wife said that there will be a Parliament march on 20th July. He said that this movement is now not just against paper leaks, but for improving the entire education system.
There will be a Parliament march on July 20: Wife
New Delhi [भारत]July 18 (ANI): Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Geetanjali J Angmo on Saturday said the proposed Parliament march on July 20 will go ahead despite Delhi Police admitting the climate activist to Safdarjung Hospital. He said that Wangchuk’s hunger strike continues.
Speaking to reporters outside the hospital, Angmo said, “The July 20 march is confirmed. It is the responsibility of the executive and policy-makers to change the education system. Our job is to tell them that the system has completely collapsed.”
‘This movement is not just against paper leaks’
He said that this movement has gone beyond the issue of NEET paper leak and has become a broader campaign to improve the education system. He said, “This movement is not just against paper leaks. It is to awaken the conscience of the entire country, and it has awakened to a great extent.”
Angmo said Wangchuk has refused to take electrolyte powder and is continuing his fast. He said, “Sonam Wangchuk has been on a fast for 20 days, and it is still continuing. Doctors asked to give her electrolyte powder, but she refused. Her fast is still continuing.”
Questions raised on hospitalization
Questioning the circumstances of his hospitalization, Angmo said that the Delhi High Court had directed regular health monitoring, but had not ordered hospitalization.
He said, “With regard to the High Court order, the order never directed hospitalization. It only said that a person’s health is paramount and should be monitored at regular intervals; it did not order hospitalization. Therefore, it is not in accordance with the High Court order. No treatment is going on right now. Only monitoring and tests are being done, and we are actually going to get the tests done from an external lab.”
Expressed disbelief on medical report
He further said that the family wants to independently verify the medical reports before any treatment. Angmo said, “Since they are not giving the report on our request, and the data they are citing, like the potassium level reached 2.9. It was 4.3 yesterday, so it cannot change that much today. We want to cross-check it with another lab before giving any medicine.”
‘There is no need for government intervention’
Angmo said Wangchuk is not consuming sugar and is continuing his fast with only salt and water. He said, “He is still on fast; the fast is continuing because he is not taking any sugar. He is only taking the same salt water that he was taking earlier.”
Angamo added, “I am grateful that the government cared to bring him here, but we will handle the further steps ourselves; there is no need for government interference in this matter. He is certainly weak and losing muscles – which happens during any fast, but he is alert and very strong.”
On whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi or any senior government leader could intervene to end the fast, Angmo said he did not see any such possibility. He said, “That period was different; this period is different. I don’t think there is any such possibility.”
Police and hospital statement
His comments came after Delhi Police took Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday morning. Safdarjung Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Charu Bamba said Wangchuk is stable but has mild dehydration and weakness due to prolonged fasting. Dr Bamba said, “Sonam Wangchuk arrived at our hospital around 7:40 am. Due to prolonged fasting, he is somewhat weak and has mild dehydration; otherwise, all his vital parameters are stable. He is being continuously examined and monitored, and is undergoing treatment.”
Delhi Police said Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital in compliance with the High Court’s directions and on medical advice due to his deteriorating health, adding that maximum restraint was exercised during the operation.
Wangchuk has been on a hunger strike for the past 20 days demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged nationwide examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak controversy.
Members of left student organizations also participated in the protest organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar. CJP founder Abhijit Dipke said that the protests would continue despite the police action and announced that he would continue his indefinite hunger strike. (ANI)
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)