Activist Sonam Wangchuk sought temporary discharge from Safdarjung Hospital on Monday to participate in the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Parliament’ march in New Delhi. In a handwritten letter to the hospital authorities, Wangchuk said he was feeling well and requested permission to briefly leave the hospital and join the protest. However, Safdarjung Hospital stated that although his vital signs remained stable, his blood parameters still required close medical observation and continuous treatment under a multidisciplinary team. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court agreed to hear a plea filed by Wangchuk’s wife challenging the refusal to shift him to a hospital of their choice.
In a significant development during the protest, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke ended his hunger strike after receiving a request from Wangchuk through his wife, Gitanjali Angmo. Addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar, Angmo said Wangchuk wanted Dipke to conserve his strength and continue leading the movement instead of remaining on an indefinite fast. Dipke then broke his fast by drinking juice and joined Angmo in the march towards Parliament, where thousands of supporters had gathered to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged competitive examination paper leaks.
The protest witnessed massive participation as thousands of young people marched towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session. Security was tightened across central Delhi, with large numbers of police and paramilitary personnel deployed to prevent protesters from entering the high-security zone. Reports also indicated that the Centre had initiated talks with CJP representatives while authorities continued to monitor the situation closely. With legal proceedings underway and negotiations reportedly beginning, all eyes remain on the next phase of the protest and the government’s response to the protesters’ demands.
