New Delhi (India) July 15: If activist Sonam Wangchuk does not break his ongoing indefinite hunger strike, which is in its 18th day, he will not be able to survive for more than two days, according to an urgent plea filed in the Delhi High Court.
The plea further states that the state is least concerned and insensitive to the activist's condition and demanded immediate steps to force-feed the protestor who is seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Delhi HC Takes Up Urgent Plea
The Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia asked the Centre and the Delhi government to file a reply by tomorrow on the plea due to the urgent nature of the subject.
"Nobody is present on behalf of the Union of India. We are entertaining the petition. We will post the matter tomorrow itself and require them to seek instructions. We will ask the registry to file the order to the authorities today itself," the Delhi High Court said.
Plea Seeks Force-Feeding
The advocate, Rakesh Kumar Saini filed a plea alleging that Mr. Wangchuk's health has significantly deteriorated after several days of fasting, requesting authorities to take immediate steps to save his life. Saini wants to direct the Central and Delhi government to provide immediate medical care, including food, to the climate activist and to take Wangchuk to hospital for a check-up.
"The simple thing to be done is to take him to a government 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 plea said.
“That it is highly shocking and condemnable that the Government of India and Government of NCT Delhi do not seem to be concerned at all with this alarming and most unfortunate situation, wherein due to highlighting an important public cause and great concern regarding education and of great concern to the student community in crores," it added.
Wangchuk's Protest Over NEET Row
Wangchuk is staging an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar and is demanding resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, due to alleged irregularities in examination and the NEET paper leak.
His protest is supported by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a political outfit backed by youths. Wangchuk started his protest in the form of a hunger strike on June 28 and the 18th day of his protest has been today where he has lost over 8 kilograms and experienced a dip in his blood sugar.