Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is willing to end his over three-week-long hunger strike on Monday if political leaders from across party lines meet him at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital and assure him that they will raise the issue of education accountability during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, his wife Gitanjali J. Angmo said on Sunday.
Wangchuk, who has been fasting since June 28 in support of protests demanding accountability in the education system, remains admitted to Safdarjung Hospital after being shifted there from Jantar Mantar when his health deteriorated. Despite medical advice, he has refused intravenous (IV) fluids, oral rehydration, medication and other recommended treatment. Doctors have warned that prolonged fasting has left him dehydrated and metabolically stressed, though they said he remains conscious and haemodynamically stable under close medical supervision.
According to Angmo, Wangchuk's protest is not driven by personal demands but by a call for reforms and greater accountability in India's education system. She said he would end his fast only if political leaders commit to taking up the issue in Parliament, where the Monsoon Session begins on Monday.
The Delhi High Court on Sunday refused to grant interim relief on a plea filed by Angmo seeking Wangchuk's transfer to a private hospital. The court held that the government's decision to move him to Safdarjung Hospital was justified given his deteriorating health and directed authorities to submit a fresh health status report.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk's supporters have called for a 'Chalo Sansad' march to Parliament on Monday to press for education reforms and accountability. However, the Delhi Police said no permission has been sought or granted for any protest march towards Parliament. Security has been tightened in the national capital ahead of the Monsoon Session, with authorities warning that action will be taken against any unlawful assembly.
Wangchuk's team has maintained that he wishes to return to Jantar Mantar to continue his protest, while his wife has alleged that the government's concern over his health is being used to prevent him from participating in the planned demonstration.
