NEW DELHI: Indian activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to a hospital by Delhi Police on Saturday after completing 20 days of a hunger strike, following concerns over his deteriorating health.
The 59-year-old activist had been fasting since June 28, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in medical entrance examinations.
Hundreds of students had joined Wangchuk at the protest site in Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, while additional demonstrations were organised by the online satirical Cockroach Janta Party movement.
In a statement, Delhi Police said Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital on the advice of medical experts and in compliance with an order of the Delhi High Court.
“As per the orders of the High Court and expert medical advice due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care,” the police statement said.
Police said some protesters attempted to obstruct the move, leading to a brief commotion, and urged demonstrators to vacate the protest site peacefully.
Videos from Jantar Mantar showed police carrying Wangchuk from the protest stage amid confusion among his supporters.
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court directed government doctors to monitor Wangchuk’s health on a daily basis after a petition warned that his life could be at risk if he continued the fast.
“The life of any citizen is precious,” the court observed, ordering that all necessary medical intervention be provided to save his life.
An engineer by training, Wangchuk is widely known for his pioneering water conservation initiatives in the Himalayan region.
Hours before being taken to hospital, Wangchuk said that “smaller movements have brought down many governments in India,” adding that his protest was about protecting the country’s education system.
The protest comes after around 2.2 million aspiring medical students sat for a re-examination last month after the original entrance test was cancelled due to a paper leak. The controversy, along with irregularities in high school examination results, has triggered widespread protests, with several opposition leaders expressing support for Wangchuk and the student movement.
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