Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on 18 July after his health deteriorated following 20 days of hunger strike, prompting veteran social activist Anna Hazare to call on the Centre to initiate dialogue. Wangchuk had been fasting at Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.

Anna Hazare's Appeal

Speaking to reporters in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, Hazare said: 'There should be an understanding; the problem can be solved only through dialogue and mutual understanding.' He stressed that prolonging the standoff would not yield results, adding: 'If we want to carry society along, efforts should be made to settle disputes through mutual consent.'

Hazare drew on his own experience — in 2011, he led a 13-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar and Ramlila Maidan under the India Against Corruption movement. That agitation ended after the then Congress-led UPA government agreed to form a joint drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill.

Wangchuk's Medical Condition

A medical bulletin released by Safdarjung Hospital painted a concerning picture. Wangchuk is reportedly showing signs of dehydration, compensated acidosis, low serum potassium, and a blood sugar reading of 78 mg/dl. Urinary ketones, recorded at 1+ at the time of admission, had risen to 3+ later in the day — a marker of the body breaking down fat in the absence of adequate nutrition.

According to the hospital, Wangchuk was conscious upon admission and his vital parameters — including pulse, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation — remained stable. However, he has continued to refuse intravenous fluids, oral rehydration, and medication.

Family Seeks Transfer

Earlier on the same day, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, wrote to the hospital requesting that discharge formalities be completed at the earliest so that he could be shifted to a medical centre of the family's choice. She cited what she described as a 'lack of transparency' in his treatment.

Background and Context

The agitation at Jantar Mantar was being led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Wangchuk, widely known for his work in Ladakh and as an inspiration behind the film 3 Idiots, has in recent years become a prominent voice on climate issues and Ladakh's constitutional status. This is the second high-profile indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar in recent memory to draw national attention and invoke comparisons with Hazare's 2011 movement.

Whether the Centre responds to Hazare's appeal for dialogue remains to be seen, but Wangchuk's deteriorating health has sharply raised the political stakes around the NEET controversy.