India
oi-Swastika Sruti
In the latest development, Congress leader – Rahul Gandhi has criticised the alleged removal of Sonam Wangchuk from the protesting site at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He called this ‘wrong’ and accused the Narendra Modi government of using force against peaceful protest.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the Narendra Modi government for allegedly removing hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18, citing health and court orders, while supporters proceed with a planned July 20 Parliament march.
Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite hunger strike was forcefully shifted to the Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi police on July 18 on health grounds.
Rahul Gandhi linked this actions with the concerns raised by the students including paper leaks, education costs and suicides. In a post on X, he said the government’s core principles were “Asatya and Hinsa” and argued that “no amount of force” could stop students, or those standing with them, from raising public issues.
The core tenets of the Modi government are Asatya and Hinsa.
The removal of Sonam Wangchuk ji from Jantar Mantar while he was on a non-violent hunger strike is wrong.
Paper leaks, the rising cost of education, and student suicides are critical issues for India’s future.
No…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 18, 2026
Rahul Gandhi backs Sonam Wangchuk protest
Rahul Gandhi’s intervention adds a sharper edge at a time when Wangchuk’s supporters are preparing for a march to Parliament on July 20. His remarks question a larger part of the act that concerns the right to peaceful protest in the national capital.
Sonam’s peaceful protest draws attention because of his ideology of non-violent hunger strike. The protesters at the site said that the protest was peaceful and that the authorities should have allowed it to continue without such an action. However the police maintained that the hospital shift was purely on medical grounds.
Delhi Police said Wangchuk was taken to Safdarjung Hospital after concerns over his health on the 21st day of his fast. According to the police, the action was taken in compliance with Delhi High Court directions requiring authorities to ensure that he received appropriate care if his condition deteriorated.
“As per high court orders and on expert medical advice, due to the deteriorating health condition of Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care. While complying with the high court orders, the protestors tried to create an obstruction, during which a slight commotion ensued. However, police kept maximum restraint and undertook the exercise safely,” the police said in a statement.
July 20 Parliament march remains planned
Sonam Wangchuk’s wife – Gitanjali J Angmo, said that the scheduled march to Sansad will go ahead even if Sonam is unable to take part . She said that the police taking him to the hospital from the protest site will not stop the march to the parliament on July 20.
“Even if Sonam can’t join the march, I will represent him and lead that march, and it will happen on Monday as planned. It’s not that just because they’ve forcibly brought Sonam here, they can stop it,” she said.
The ‘Sansad Chalo’ March, will pressure the authorities to manage the march and at the same time defend the decision to intervene on medical grounds.
