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New Delhi [भारत]July 21 (ANI): Activist Sonam Wangchuk continued her indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday despite being shifted from Safdarjung Hospital to Gurugram's Medanta Hospital following the Delhi High Court's direction. At the same time, a day after violent clashes during the Parliament march, thousands of students and supporters returned to Jantar Mantar to resume their movement.

Over 5,000 protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar and made their presence felt again at the protest site after clashes with Delhi Police during the 'Sansad Chalo' march on Monday. Organizers from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which is leading the movement, announced that the protest would continue indefinitely, but they would not march further towards Parliament. He alleged that participants faced excessive police force during Monday's protest.

Wangchuk's fast continues in the hospital also

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

Earlier on Tuesday, the Delhi High Court, after hearing a petition filed by Angmo, directed the immediate transfer of Wangchuk from Safdarjung Hospital. A division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Karia accepted Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's submission that the Center had no objection to the transfer. The court directed Medanta Hospital to form a special medical team to monitor Wangchuk's treatment. The court also directed the activist to remain under constant medical observation and follow the medical advice given by the doctors.

Soon after the court order, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and Safdarjung Hospital discharged Wangchuk. The hospital said his vital parameters were stable at the time of discharge, but also reported that pancytopenia persisted and his serum potassium level was 3.4 mEq/L, requiring continued monitoring. Hospital officials said all medical records, investigation reports and documents related to the treatment were handed over to the Medanta medical team to ensure continuity of care.

Accusation of keeping in 'custody'

The High Court's decision came after reviewing the medical records submitted by AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and the doctors treating Wangchuk. During the hearing, senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, informed the bench that Wangchuk's vitals were stable and he was maintaining himself through oral rehydration while continuing his fast. Senior lawyer Akhil Sibal also referred to a letter written by Wangchuk alleging that he was under police surveillance inside Safdarjung Hospital and was denied access to his mobile phone. The bench said their concerns needed to be considered, but medical experts were unanimous that they needed constant hospital monitoring.

Welcoming the High Court order, Angmo alleged that Wangchuk's stay at Safdarjung Hospital was tantamount to "detention and imprisonment" rather than medical treatment. He claimed that his condition could have been monitored even at Jantar Mantar and alleged that members of Parliament and some of the doctors treating him were prevented from meeting him. She said, "I thank the Delhi High Court for disposing of this matter favourably. In India, every citizen has the right to choose his doctor and hospital. There was a lack of trust in the way he was brought here. There was no need for his hospitalisation; his health could have been monitored at Jantar Mantar."

Protestors gathered again at Jantar Mantar

Angmo further said that Wangchuk has decided to continue his hunger strike in support of the students who were allegedly beaten and tear gas fired during Monday's protests. He said the activists would continue their fast until Parliament addresses the concerns of students affected by alleged examination irregularities.

Despite the previous day's clashes, the protest movement got a new lease of life on Tuesday and thousands of people gathered at Jantar Mantar. CJP leaders said they would avoid another march towards Parliament due to concerns of further police action, but would continue their campaign until their demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation is met. CJP spokesperson Saurav Das said the organization was committed to peaceful protests and later canceled the planned protest outside the Delhi Police headquarters after lawyers confirmed the release of all detained protesters. Delhi Police also issued a statement saying no one was in custody and appealed to the public not to spread unverified information on social media.

Police accused of using force

Meanwhile, CJP activist Abhijit Dipke made serious allegations against Delhi Police, saying the personnel used excessive force against students during Monday's clashes. He alleged that male police officers attacked female protesters, including minors, and claimed that Wangchuk changed his previous decision to end his fast after seeing reports of police action against students. Dipke further alleged that the police could have used water cannons to disperse the protesters instead of resorting to lathi charge and tear gas. He also raised questions about how the stones allegedly used during the clashes reached the heavily barricaded protest site and accused the authorities of instigating violence, allegations which Delhi Police has denied.

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

Political conflict intensifies

Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who met the CJP delegation on Monday, visited Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital on Tuesday and met injured persons undergoing treatment after the violence. He also reviewed the medical arrangements with the hospital officials. Nadda later said that talks with the protesters were held in a cordial atmosphere and reiterated that the government is ready for talks. Union Minister Chirag Paswan also appealed for talks, saying students' concerns should be respected and their voices should not be suppressed, adding that law and order should also be maintained.

Support for the movement continued to increase among opposition parties. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) President Sharad Pawar visited Jantar Mantar along with MP Supriya Sule and urged the Center to respond sensitively to the demands of the students. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav criticized the government over repeated exam paper leaks and alleged use of excessive force against students, while Himachal Pradesh Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi called peaceful protests a democratic right and accused the Center of weakening constitutional institutions. Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh also attacked the government over the police action, saying "talks work, not lathi rule," and questioned why Wangchuk's long hunger strike did not trigger meaningful talks with the Centre.

Struggle from Parliament to the streets

The issue also resonated inside Parliament, where several opposition MPs moved adjournment motions demanding discussion on the NEET paper leak, police action against protesters and restrictions around Parliament. Congress MP Renuka Chaudhary alleged that Parliament has been effectively locked down through heavy deployment of security personnel and suspension of internet services, while Lok Sabha MP Vijay Vasant repeatedly demanded accountability over the exam leak and police action against students.

As the protests continued at Jantar Mantar, the Congress further intensified its campaign by leading a demonstration near Lok Kalyan Marg, the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 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 the attack on the students was an "attack on every Indian family". The protest ended with Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and several opposition leaders being detained, escalating political confrontation over the government's handling of the NEET controversy and student protests. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianetnews Editorial staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)