The opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) were reportedly prevented from meeting the activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on July 22. Following this incident, the MPs submitted a letter to Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, requesting him to end his ongoing indefinite fast. They asserted that 15 MPs from multiple parties, including the Samajwadi Party, RJD, CPI(M), JMM, BJD, and AAP, were stopped by the police from accessing Wangchuk to deliver a letter signed by 55 MPs.

During a press briefing outside the hospital, AAP MP Sanjay Singh criticized the government, alleging that only Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh were granted the opportunity to meet Wangchuk. Singh expressed his discontent, highlighting that the police had prevented them from meeting a patient, which he deemed an unprecedented action. He questioned whether the authorities desired Wangchuk to suffer further harm and emphasised the letter’s message urging him to consider his health and end the fast.

Singh also mentioned that Wangchuk had indicated a willingness to end his fast if he received assurances from the MPs. Despite their efforts, the opposition MPs were denied permission to meet him, raising concerns about the treatment of parliamentarians by the police. He reiterated the demand for a meeting, stressing that their request was in line with legislative protocols.

Police Response and Allegations of Misconduct

Some MPs expressed frustration over the police’s refusal to allow them to meet Wangchuk, labelling the situation as a breach of democratic norms. RJD MP Sanjay Yadav stated that the authorities were allowing BJP leaders access while obstructing opposition members, a move he regarded as inappropriate. Yadav questioned the police’s adherence to basic procedures, seeking clarification on the enforcement of control over their access.

Further, Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj challenged the police to reveal the medical protocols they were using to prevent the MPs from entering the hospital. Saroj affirmed that they were willing to remain at the hospital indefinitely until they could meet Wangchuk. She expressed concern over the treatment received from the police and insisted that their request to see Wangchuk should be accommodated.

Wangchuk’s Demands Amid Ongoing Fast

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has now entered the 25th day of his indefinite fast, which commenced with demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations related to the NEET-UG paper leak. He has been vocal about his conditions for ending the fast, chiefly seeking guarantees from the government against any punitive measures against protestors involved in the Cockroach Janata Party’s ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest.

In a message shared on X, Wangchuk outlined that the participating protestors had not committed any offences and called for unequivocal assurances from the government. He indicated that the only ‘offence’ of the youth involved was standing up for a better education system. Wangchuk mentioned he would consider halting his fast should he receive confirmation that no legal actions would ensue against the protestors.

If the government provides the requested assurance, he believes it would demonstrate attentiveness to the concerns of thousands of young individuals demanding accountability in the education sector. Conversely, without such assurances, he signalled an intention to continue fasting indefinitely.

In the backdrop of these events, the Delhi Police have reportedly filed ten First Information Reports (FIRs) relating to the protests. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has intervened by issuing notice to both the Centre and the Delhi Police, addressing complaints regarding alleged excessive use of force during the protests and demanding the preservation of CCTV footage relevant to the incidents.

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