Sonam Wangchuk has described his hospitalisation as an "illegal detention" in his first message to supporters since being removed from the site of his prolonged hunger strike at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
Urging them to make Cockroach Janta Party's planned march to Parliament on Monday, July 20, a success, the activist framed the outfit's ongoing campaign as "India’s 2nd Freedom Movement."
The message surfaced on Sunday, a day after Wangchuk was taken forcibly to Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police on the 21st day of his hunger strike.
He also called for a "fear-free" and "injustice-free" India. The 59-year-old relayed the message through his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo. The note was etched on a crumpled piece of paper, a photo of which was posted on Wangchuk's X handle.
Referring to issues such as paper leaks, the central concern of his hunger strike and the CJP's broader protest, he stressed the need for "freedom from injustice."
He also appeared to draw a parallel between his "illegal detention" and the broader idea of freedom from fear.
On Sunday, the Safdarjung Hospital said that Wangchuk is being given the "required medical intervention" and a team of experts is closely monitoring his condition.
In a health bulletin, it stated, "His vital parameters are stable at present; however, his blood parameters remain marginally altered, and considering the physiological stress and systemic effects of prolonged fasting, he requires continuous medical care under the close observation of a multidisciplinary team of experts."
Earlier, on Saturday, the hospital had said that Wangchuk refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and all medications despite repeated counselling by the treating team and an independent All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) expert, while his family was yet to provide consent for the recommended medical intervention.
The Delhi Police has said that Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital for "essential medical care" following expert medical advice and in compliance with the Delhi High Court's directions.
On Friday night, he had said he remained determined to continue the fast despite his worsening condition, claiming he had lost 20 per cent of his body mass by the point.
His removal from Jantar Mantar came two days after the Centre told the High Court that it would provide any required medical intervention to him on the basis of advice from doctors monitoring his health.
Saturday was the 21st day of Wangchuk's hunger strike, which he began on June 28 while demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET examination irregularities.
The prolonged fasting is part of the CJP's broader agitation to demand accountability and a judicial probe into alleged examination scams and wider reforms in the examination system.
