After court-directed hospital transfer, Wangchuk continues fast amid ongoing protests

More than 5,000 protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar, reclaiming the protest site after Monday's clashes with Delhi Police during the 'Sansad Chalo' march. Organisers from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which is spearheading the movement, announced that while the protest would continue indefinitely, they would suspend further marches towards Parliament, alleging that participants faced excessive police force during Monday's demonstration.

Wangchuk, who began his indefinite fast on June 28, continues to remain a central figure in the nationwide protest movement. Although he was transferred to Medanta Hospital under judicial supervision, his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, confirmed that he would continue his hunger strike in solidarity with students who were allegedly injured during the police action.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court directed Wangchuk's immediate transfer from Safdarjung Hospital after hearing a plea filed by Angmo. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia accepted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's submission that the Centre had no objection to the transfer and directed Medanta Hospital to form a specialised medical team to supervise Wangchuk's treatment.

The court also instructed the activist to follow the medical advice prescribed by doctors while continuing to remain under constant medical supervision.

Soon after the court's order, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital discharged Wangchuk. The hospital stated that his vital parameters were stable at the time of discharge but noted that pancytopenia persisted and his serum potassium level remained at 3.4 mEq/L, requiring continued monitoring.

Hospital authorities said all medical records, investigation reports and treatment-related documents were handed over to the Medanta medical team to ensure uninterrupted continuation of care.

The High Court's decision came after reviewing medical records submitted by AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and Wangchuk's treating doctors. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, informed the Bench that Wangchuk's vital signs were stable and that he was sustaining himself through oral rehydration while continuing his fast.

Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal also referred to a letter written by Wangchuk alleging that he was under police surveillance inside Safdarjung Hospital and had been denied access to his mobile phone. The Bench observed that while his concerns required consideration, medical experts were unanimous that he needed continuous hospital monitoring.

Welcoming the High Court's order, Angmo alleged that Wangchuk's stay at Safdarjung Hospital amounted to "detention and captivity" rather than medical treatment. She claimed that his condition could have been monitored at Jantar Mantar and alleged that Members of Parliament and some of his treating doctors were prevented from meeting him.

"I thank the Delhi High Court for favourably disposing of this matter. In India, every citizen has the right to choose his doctor and hospital. There was a trust deficit because of the way he was brought here. His hospitalisation was not needed; his health could have been monitored at Jantar Mantar," she said.

Angmo further stated that Wangchuk decided to continue his hunger strike in support of students who were allegedly beaten and tear-gassed during Monday's protest. She said the activist would continue his fast until Parliament addressed the concerns of students affected by alleged examination irregularities.

The protest movement witnessed renewed participation on Tuesday, with thousands gathering at Jantar Mantar despite the previous day's confrontation. CJP leaders said they would avoid another march towards Parliament due to concerns over further police action but would continue their campaign until their demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was addressed.

CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the organisation remained committed to peaceful protest and later called off a planned sit-in outside Delhi Police Headquarters after lawyers confirmed that all detained protesters had been released. Delhi Police also issued a statement saying no one remained in detention and appealed to the public not to circulate unverified information on social media.

Meanwhile, CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke levelled serious allegations against Delhi Police, accusing personnel of using excessive force against students during Monday's clashes. He alleged that male police officers assaulted women protesters, including minors, and claimed that Wangchuk had reversed his earlier decision to end his fast after witnessing reports of police action against students.

Dipke further alleged that police could have dispersed protesters using water cannons instead of resorting to baton charges and tear gas. He also questioned how stones allegedly used during the clashes reached the heavily barricaded protest site and accused the authorities of orchestrating the violence, allegations that Delhi Police have denied.

Delhi Police maintained that protesters attempted to breach security barricades, attacked personnel with stones and other objects, vandalised public property and government vehicles, and injured more than 118 police personnel. Police said approximately 60 protesters were also injured during the clashes and confirmed that five FIRs had been registered. Investigators are examining more than 250 videos to identify those involved in the violence.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who met a CJP delegation on Monday, visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Tuesday to meet injured persons receiving treatment following the violence. He also reviewed medical arrangements with hospital authorities. Nadda later stated that discussions with the protesters had taken place in a cordial atmosphere and reiterated that the government remained open to dialogue.

Union Minister Chirag Paswan also appealed for dialogue, saying students' concerns deserved respect and that their voices should not be suppressed, while adding that law and order must also be maintained.

Support for the movement continued to grow across Opposition parties. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) president Sharad Pawar visited Jantar Mantar along with MP Supriya Sule and urged the Centre to respond sensitively to the students' demands. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticised the government over repeated examination paper leaks and alleged excessive force against students, while Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi described peaceful protest as a democratic right and accused the Centre of weakening constitutional institutions. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh also attacked the government over the police action, saying that "dialogue works, not the rule of the baton," and questioned why Wangchuk's prolonged hunger strike had not prompted meaningful engagement from the Centre.

The issue also reverberated inside Parliament, where several Opposition MPs moved adjournment motions demanding discussions on the NEET paper leak, police action against protesters and restrictions around Parliament. Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury alleged that Parliament had been effectively locked down through heavy deployment of security personnel and suspension of internet services, while Lok Sabha MP Vijay Vasanth sought accountability over repeated examination leaks and police action against students.

As protests continued at Jantar Mantar, the Congress escalated its own campaign by leading a demonstration near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several senior Congress leaders demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and accountability over the paper leak.

Rahul Gandhi appealed to citizens to join the protest, saying an attack on students was "an attack on every Indian family." The protest ended with the detention of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several Opposition leaders, further escalating the political confrontation over the NEET controversy and the government's handling of student protests. (ANI)