Sonam Wangchuk seeks permission to leave Safdarjung Hospital to join ‘Sansad Chalo March’

New Delhi, July 20 (IANS) Activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday wrote to the Director of Safdarjung Hospital, seeking permission to leave the hospital in order to join the “Sansad Chalo March”.

In his letter, Wangchuk said, “This is to state that I am feeling very fine today and my health parameters are also showing as quite normal. Hence, I request you to kindly allow me to leave the hospital, even if temporarily, so that I can join the march to the Parliament – Sansad Chalo – this morning.”

Wangchuk, who has been observing an indefinite hunger strike, is currently admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi after being shifted from the protest site.

His hospitalisation came after the Delhi High Court permitted authorities to intervene if his health condition deteriorated during the course of the fast.

Thousands of supporters began gathering at Jantar Mantar to participate in the “Chalo Sansad” protest.

The protest has been organised to press for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak case and other examination-related irregularities, including the 12th CBSE Board, that have sparked nationwide concerns over the integrity of competitive examinations.

The situation turned tense as clashes broke out between police and demonstrators, with security personnel attempting to stop them from crossing barricades.

The protest witnessed a heavy security presence, with Delhi Police putting up multiple layers of barricading across the New Delhi district to control the movement of protesters. According to police officials, the protesters gathered at the protest site as crowds continued to swell.

Visuals from the spot showed hundreds of students and young protesters carrying flags and raising slogans. Many protesters were seen attempting to move beyond the barricades, following which police personnel repeatedly pushed them back to maintain order.

Police personnel were deployed in large numbers at Jantar Mantar, with a riot control vehicle also entering the protest site early on Monday. Authorities also imposed restrictions around the area as the march towards Parliament was planned by the protesters.

The police used force to stop demonstrators from crossing security barricades, and a lathi charge was also reported during the confrontation between police and protesters.

The situation remained tense as security personnel attempted to prevent protesters from moving towards restricted areas.

Police also deployed signal jammers in and around the protest area, with some protesters claiming that mobile phone connectivity was affected near the venue.

–IANS

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