Security personnel screen with sheets and keep vigil as activist Sonam Wangchuk, unseen, who has been on an indefinite hunger strike for 21 days, is shifted to a hospital from Jantar Mantar, in New Delhi, Saturday, July 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, on Saturday (July 18, 2026) criticised the Centre over Delhi Police shifting activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital, saying, “such arrogance is not right.”
“Instead of forcibly lifting him (Mr. Wangchuk) up, the Modi government should have talked to Sonam Wangchuk,” Mr. Kejriwal said in a post on X.
“Instead of crushing the cockroach movement, reform the country’s education and examination system,” and added, “Coercion against Sonam Wangchuk is Modi government’s defeat.”
Follow the live updates as Activist Sonam Wangchuk is shifted to the hospital
Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP and AAP leader Sanjay Singh strongly criticised the move and claimed that no representative of the Centre had spoken to the activist during his fast and alleged that police used force against protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar.
Mr. Singh further alleged that the action was taken ahead of the protest’s proposed march to Parliament on July 20 and appealed to the youth to continue supporting Mr. Wangchuk’s agitation.
He said attempts to suppress the movement through police action would not succeed.
AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that police personnel in civil clothes entered the protest site and carried white bedsheets to block camera views during the operation, claiming that this was done to prevent any alleged manhandling of Wangchuk and other protesters from being captured on video.
AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha, in a post on X, alleged that governments with authoritarian tendencies fear mass movements and said attempts to suppress public protests ultimately prove counterproductive.
He said such movements cannot be brought to an end through force or intimidation.
According to Delhi Police, Mr. Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital after expert medical advice due to his deteriorating health condition and in compliance with the directions of the Delhi High Court.
“As per High Court orders and on expert medical advice, due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. While complying with the high court orders, the protestors tried to create an obstruction, during which a slight commotion ensued. However, police kept maximum restraint and undertook the exercise safely,” the police said in a statement.
Mr. Wangchuk and three activists from All India Students’ Association (AISA) have been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest at Jantar Mantar over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.
Their health had shown a steady decline over the last three weeks.
The Delhi High Court, which has been monitoring the developments, directed that Mr. Wangchuk’s health be regularly assessed and that appropriate medical intervention be provided if required.
On Friday, doctors said Mr. Wangchuk had lost nearly 9.5 kg since the beginning of the hunger strike. Mr. Wangchuk, however, had said that he was determined to continue the fast despite his worsening condition.
On Saturday, Delhi Police said they shifted Mr. Wangchuk to a government hospital after his health deteriorated, citing medical advice and the high court’s directions.
AISA members Neha, Aameen and Manish, however, continued their hunger strike at the protest site on day 21. According to AISA, protesters formed a human chain around them and stopped the police from forcefully removing them.
(with inputs from PTI)
Published – July 18, 2026 10:11 am IST
