Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, 18 July launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalised by Delhi Police following a 20-day hunger strike that had severely weakened his health. Gandhi accused the government of operating on the twin pillars of 'Asatya' (lies) and 'Hinsa' (violence)'.

What Rahul Gandhi Said

Posting on X under the hashtag #ChhatronKiGoonj, Gandhi said: 'The core tenets of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government are Asatya and Hinsa. The removal of Sonam Wangchuk ji from Jantar Mantar while he was on a non-violent hunger strike is wrong.'

Gandhi also broadened his critique to encompass student grievances, stating that paper leaks, the rising cost of education, and student suicides are critical issues for India's future. 'No amount of force can deter India's students, and those of us who love and believe in them, from raising these issues,' he asserted.

Background: The Wangchuk Protest

Wangchuk had been leading a sit-in at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, as part of the agitation demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy. The protest was being spearheaded under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). After 20 days without food, his health deteriorated to a point where Delhi Police intervened and arranged his hospitalisation.

Opposition Voices Unite

The condemnation was not limited to the Congress. All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over Wangchuk's health in a post on X, writing: 'Deeply concerned about Sonam Wangchuk's health and well-being. He asked only for dialogue, yet his appeal has been met with silence for weeks. In a democracy, peaceful dissent deserves engagement, not silence. His voice has been ignored, just as the voices of countless young Indians continue to be ignored.'

Congress leader Pawan Khera said the Home Ministry appeared 'determined to deny' the constitutional right to dissent. NCP-SP supremo Sharad Pawar, speaking to reporters, said: 'We had anticipated that they would arrest him within five or six days, and that is exactly what has happened...Despite the growing protests, the central government has remained a mute spectator. That is why other political parties have stepped in to support the movement.'

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut labelled the Delhi Police action as 'sheer authoritarianism' and alleged it was a ploy to divert attention from the Ram Raksha protest in Maharashtra.

Wider Context

This comes amid sustained Opposition pressure over the NEET paper leak, which has triggered protests across multiple states. The hospitalisation of a prominent non-violent protester has sharpened the political battle, drawing in leaders from across the Opposition spectrum — from the Congress and TMC to the NCP-SP and Shiv Sena (UBT). Notably, the episode follows a pattern of hunger-strike-led agitations that have previously forced political responses from the Centre; this time, the government has not publicly commented on the Opposition's criticism.

With Wangchuk's health condition now under medical supervision and Opposition parties formally backing the protest, the pressure on the Centre over both the NEET controversy and the handling of dissent is set to intensify in the coming days.