NEW DELHI: Even after activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike, three student activists have continued the fast at Jantar Mantar, with organisers saying the protest and the planned July 20 march to Parliament will go ahead.The three hunger strikers are Neha, Ameen Amitoj and Manish Kumar, all associated with the All India Students’ Association (AISA).Neha, AISA’s president and a PhD scholar in theatre and performance studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), has reportedly lost 7.5 kg since the fast began.Ameen Amitoj, a PhD scholar in urban studies at Dr BR Ambedkar University Delhi, has lost 9.3 kg, according to the organisers. Hailing from Punjab, he had also participated in the 2020-21 farmers’ protest.Manish Kumar, AISA’s Uttar Pradesh president and a PhD scholar in political science at Allahabad University, has reportedly lost 10.4 kg during the hunger strike.
Other 3 hunger strikers
Following Wangchuk’s removal from the protest site on Saturday morning, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke also began an indefinite hunger strike.Dipke broke down in tears after Wangchuk was taken away and later alleged that the activist had been removed without his or his family’s consent.On Sunday, Wangchuk appealed to supporters to make the proposed July 20 Parliament march a success. In a message posted on X through his wife Gitanjali J Angmo, he described the protest as “India’s 2nd FREEDOM MOVEMENT” seeking “freedom from injustice” and “freedom from fear”, adding that the message had been sent “from my illegal detention at Safdarjung”.Separately, Dipke posted on X alleging that authorities were preparing for “a crackdown” and shared a video purportedly showing Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel deployed at Jantar Mantar.Delhi Police shifted Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday, saying the move was made on expert medical advice and in compliance with directions of the Delhi high court due to his deteriorating health.Police said some protesters tried to obstruct the exercise, leading to a “slight commotion”, but maintained that officers exercised maximum restraint and that no lathi charge or detentions took place.Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, has maintained that he continues his hunger strike in hospital, consuming only salt water, and has questioned the decision to hospitalise him, saying the high court had directed only that his health be monitored regularly.Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.The Delhi high court directed that his health be monitored regularly and that appropriate medical intervention be provided if required.
