Parliament session, CJP rally schedule main reasons for removing Wangchuk from protest site

Environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk is taken to hospital by police on July 18, 2026 during his ongoing hunger strike at Jantar Mantar seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak. Photo credit: ANI

The Delhi Police has been instructed by the Union government to move activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site at Jantar Mantar for the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament starting on Monday (July 20, 2026), government sources said.

Also Read: Update on Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike on July 18

Police and other security agencies also captured the law and order situation in the national capital, a few meters away from the Parliament House, as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) announced a rally demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the wake of the NEET exam papers leak.

However, in a post on X, the Delhi Police said that Mr Wangchuk was taken to hospital on the orders of the Delhi High Court and on expert medical advice due to his deteriorating health. He was taken to Safdarjung Hospital in South Delhi.

His wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo disputed the police’s statement, saying the high court’s order never referred to hospitalization and the court only asked to monitor his health at regular intervals.

Early on Saturday (July 18) the stage at Jantar Mantar where Mr Wangchuk had been on hunger strike for 21 days was surrounded by plainclothes police personnel posing as members of the government medical team.

Away from the cameras

They covered the platform with white sheets and escorted Mr. Wangchuk away. Due to poor health, he could not resist.

Sources said the government did not want pictures or videos of any confrontation or force to be used against the activist, which had gone viral on social media.

He was seen showing the victory sign as he was carried down the stage. Apart from the Delhi Police, personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and specialized counter-intelligence units have also been deployed.

Earlier in June, the Delhi Police allowed a protest called by CJP, an online youth group, to calm the youth’s anxiety over the NEET paper leak. After his arrival from the United States on June 6, Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the CJP, was given permission by the police to protest at Jantar Mantar.

After the first round of protest at Jantar Mantar in June, when the government analyzed that the CJP was more of an online sensation with few people taking to the streets in support, they were allowed to extend the protest at Jantar Mantar beyond the day-long agitation that began on 20 June.

A week later, Mr. Wangchuk went on hunger strike demanding Mr. Pradhan’s resignation. Mr Wangchuk’s removal was one of the first tasks of Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar, who took charge less than 24 hours ago.

Published – 19 Jul 2026 0:04 IST