Pawan Khera slams Centre after Sonam Wangchuk shifted to hospital from Jantar Mantar
Synopsis
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's removal from Jantar Mantar — carried out under Delhi High Court orders after a 21-day hunger strike — has handed the Opposition a fresh flashpoint just days before Parliament's Monsoon Session opens. Congress's Pawan Khera is framing it as a constitutional crisis, not a law-and-order matter, and the timing of a new Delhi Police Commissioner's appointment is fuelling that narrative.
Key Takeaways
Sonam Wangchuk , on a 21-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar , was shifted to hospital on 18 July on Delhi High Court orders and medical advice.
Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the Union Home Ministry of using Delhi Police to suppress peaceful dissent.
Khera noted that the Home Ministry appointed a new Delhi Police Commissioner just a day before the crackdown.
The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) , demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged NEET paper leaks.
Wangchuk had called for a march to Parliament House on 20 July , the first day of the Monsoon Session .
Congress leader Pawan Khera on Saturday, 18 July sharply criticised the Union government after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital from Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, alleging that the police action amounted to a denial of the constitutionally guaranteed right to dissent. Wangchuk had been on a 21-day hunger strike at the protest site before being moved to hospital following concerns over his deteriorating health.
What Khera Said
In a post on social media platform X, Khera wrote, 'Our Constitution guarantees the right to dissent. The Home Ministry appears determined to deny it.' He further alleged that the timing of the crackdown was significant, noting that Delhi Police reports directly to the Union Home Ministry, which had appointed a new Police Commissioner in Delhi just a day earlier. 'If today's crackdown is his first brief, it sends a chilling message: Political obedience takes precedence over Constitutional duty,' Khera said.
Broadening his critique, the Congress leader pointed to earlier confrontations between law enforcement and protesters, stating, 'From dragging away women wrestlers to manhandling ex-servicemen, this government has repeatedly demonstrated its contempt for the Constitution.' He concluded his post by calling the ruling dispensation 'the most undemocratic and anti-democratic political party of the world.'
How Wangchuk Was Moved
According to Delhi Police, Wangchuk was shifted to hospital in compliance with directions from the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical experts, given his deteriorating condition. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) stated in an X post: 'As per orders of Hon'ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care.'
Police acknowledged that some commotion occurred when protesters attempted to obstruct the exercise, but said officers exercised 'maximum restrain' and completed the transfer safely. Authorities subsequently appealed to remaining protesters at Jantar Mantar to vacate the site peacefully.
Background: The Protest and Its Demands
The demonstration at Jantar Mantar was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leaks. Several Opposition leaders, including Khera, had visited Wangchuk during his hunger strike and urged him to call off the fast given his health condition.
Wangchuk had announced a march on 20 July from Jantar Mantar to Parliament House, timed to coincide with the first day of the Monsoon Session, to press for Pradhan's resignation.
What Comes Next
With Wangchuk now hospitalised and the protest site cleared, the political temperature around the NEET controversy is unlikely to ease — particularly as the Monsoon Session of Parliament opens on 20 July. Opposition parties are expected to raise both the NEET paper leak issue and the police action at Jantar Mantar on the floor of the House, setting the stage for a combative opening to the session.
Point of View
Congress is attempting to personalise accountability within the Home Ministry. Whether or not that charge holds up, the NEET controversy has now acquired a civil-liberties dimension that extends beyond exam administration, and the Opposition will press both angles simultaneously on the floor of the House. The government's only defensible ground — that it acted on court orders and medical advice — risks being drowned out by the imagery of protesters being cleared from a public space.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sonam Wangchuk shifted to hospital from Jantar Mantar?
Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to hospital on 18 July following directions from the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical experts, due to his deteriorating health after a 21-day hunger strike. Delhi Police said the transfer was carried out to ensure he received essential medical care.
What did Pawan Khera say about the police action at Jantar Mantar?
Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that the action violated the constitutionally guaranteed right to dissent and accused the Union Home Ministry of directing Delhi Police to suppress peaceful protest. He also questioned the timing, noting that a new Delhi Police Commissioner had been appointed just a day before the crackdown.
What were the protesters at Jantar Mantar demanding?
The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and was demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leaks. Wangchuk had planned a march to Parliament House on 20 July, the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
What is the NEET paper leak controversy?
The NEET paper leak controversy refers to allegations that question papers for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) were leaked ahead of the examination, compromising its integrity. Opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged lapses.
What happens next after Wangchuk's hospitalisation?
With the Monsoon Session of Parliament opening on 20 July, Opposition parties are expected to raise both the NEET paper leak issue and the police action at Jantar Mantar in the House. Wangchuk's condition and any further protest activity will be closely watched in the coming days.
