AAP Slams Delhi Police for Shifting Sonam Wangchuk to Hospital Amid Protests
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday, July 18, 2026, strongly criticised the Delhi Police for shifting activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital from his protest site at Jantar Mantar. The party alleged that security personnel used force against protesters and appealed to the youth and students to continue supporting Mr. Wangchuk's ongoing agitation.
Mr. Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike for 21 days before being moved. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the activist was forcibly shifted to a hospital instead of having his demands addressed by the government. According to Mr. Singh, no representative of the Central government had spoken to Mr. Wangchuk during his three-week fast.
AAP Alleges Force and Cover-Up Attempts
Mr. Singh further claimed that the police action was deliberately timed ahead of a proposed march to Parliament scheduled for July 20. He asserted that attempts to suppress the movement through police action would not succeed, urging the youth to maintain their support for the protest.
Adding to the allegations, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that police personnel in civil clothes entered the protest site carrying white bedsheets. He alleged this was done to block camera views and prevent any manhandling of Mr. Wangchuk and other protesters from being captured on video. AAP MLA Sanjeev Jha also commented on social media, stating that governments with authoritarian tendencies fear mass movements, adding that attempts to suppress public protests ultimately prove counterproductive.
Delhi Police Cite High Court Orders and Health Risks
In response to the allegations, the Delhi Police stated that Mr. Wangchuk was shifted to a government hospital following expert medical advice due to his deteriorating health condition, in compliance with directions from the Delhi High Court.
According to an official police statement, the action was taken to ensure Mr. Wangchuk received essential medical care. The police noted that while they were complying with the court orders, protesters attempted to obstruct the process, leading to a slight commotion. However, the police maintained that they exercised maximum restraint and completed the transfer safely.
Background of the Hunger Strike
Mr. Wangchuk, along with three activists from the All India Students' Association (AISA)—Neha, Aameen, and Manish—began an indefinite hunger strike on June 28. The fast was launched in support of a Cockroach Janta Party-led protest at Jantar Mantar concerning alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and reported student deaths linked to the controversy.
The Delhi High Court has been monitoring the situation, directing that Mr. Wangchuk's health be regularly assessed and medical intervention provided if necessary. On Friday, doctors reported that Mr. Wangchuk had lost approximately 9.5 kg since starting his fast, though the activist had expressed his determination to continue. While Mr. Wangchuk was hospitalised, the three AISA members continued their hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, where protesters reportedly formed a human chain to prevent police from removing them.
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