A petition has sought the urgent intervention of the Delhi High Court to provide medical aid to activist Sonam Wangchuk and end his 17-day hunger strike by force-feeding him. Wangchuk, who inspired Aamir Khan's '3 Idiots' character of Phunsukh Wangdu, has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar as part of a protest organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) seeking the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak case.
The PIL, filed by activist and lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini, mentioned that if Wangchuk continued with his hunger strike, he could end up losing his life in two days, according to a report by Bar and Bench. It has sought directions to the Centre and the Delhi government to take Wangchuk to a hospital and force-feed him.
The petition pointed out that Wangchuk's health parameters had worsened, and if he passes away, it would be a matter of "great shame for the country and the world".
"The simple thing to be done is to take him to a hospital and force feed him the necessary nutrients, vitamins and minerals by way of a liquid diet which are necessary for the human body to survive," the PIL mentioned.
According to his latest health update, the Ladhaki engineer and education reformer has lost about 8.5 kg, and his blood pressure has dropped to 109/70. Wangchuk, who started his hunger strike on June 28, has received a wave of support from academics, opposition leaders and the film industry.
The petition further alleged that the government was treating Wangchuk like a "hardcore criminal", "terrorist" or "traitor to the nation". The government has so far maintained a stoic silence on Wangchuk's hunger strike.
Visuals of a frail-looking Wangchuk lying on a white mattress and surrounded by medics have gone viral over the past few days. Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Dipke has been a constant presence by his side.
The Cockroach party, a satirical movement started by Dipke a couple of months ago, has been demanding educational reforms, compensation for the families of students who allegedly died by suicide after paper leaks, and the resignation of Pradhan.
The CJP has also announced a protest march to Parliament on July 20 - the first day of the Monsoon session.
Dipke said that appeals to Wangchuk to end his fast have not borne any fruit.
"Whenever he tries to sit or stand, he feels very dizzy. He is finding it difficult to even walk to the washroom. He is really struggling and in a lot of pain," he told BBC in an interview.
In a video message shared last week on X, Wangchuk underlined that he was not a "modern Gandhi" or a "hero" and urged people to take responsibility and support the protest.
"Many people call me the Gandhi of the 21st century or a modern Gandhi. Others call me a hero... I am just an ordinary citizen who has tried to fulfil his responsibilities," he said.
While it remains to be seen when the Delhi High Court takes up the plea, all eyes will be on the CJP's next move - the big march to Parliament on July 20.
