Sonam Wangchuk's wife demands consent before treatment at Safdarjung Hospital
Synopsis
After 21 days on hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk was hospitalised — and his wife's immediate response was a formal letter blocking any treatment without her consent. The family's dispute over mismatched potassium readings and withheld medical reports adds a charged layer to an already politically fraught situation.
Key Takeaways
Angmo , wife of Sonam Wangchuk , wrote to Safdarjung Hospital's Medical Superintendent on 18 July 2026 demanding no treatment without her consent.
Wangchuk was hospitalised after his health deteriorated following a 21-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar , New Delhi.
The family reported his potassium level at 4.3 on 17 July , while the hospital orally claimed it had dropped to 2.9 by Saturday morning — with no written reports shared.
The protest, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) , demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak .
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged he was beaten and dragged by Delhi Police and announced his own hunger strike from Saturday.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, on Saturday, 18 July 2026, wrote a formal letter to the Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, demanding that no treatment — oral or intravenous — be administered to Wangchuk without her explicit consent. Wangchuk was shifted to the hospital in the early hours of Saturday after his health deteriorated following 21 days of hunger strike at Jantar Mantar.
What the Letter Says
In her letter, Angmo stated: 'This is in reference to Mr. Sonam Wangchuk's admission in your hospital. It is my non-negotiable request and instruction to not administer any oral or intravenous substance or fluid to Mr. Wangchuk without my consent.'
She further demanded that any medicines or fluids decided for Wangchuk be communicated in advance and that they be purchased by the family. She insisted on 'transparent sharing of medical reports either digitally or physically' before any intervention.
Dispute Over Medical Reports
Angmo flagged a discrepancy in the potassium readings being communicated to the family. She noted that Wangchuk's potassium level was 4.3 as of 17 July 2026 at 4:16 pm — within normal range — but that the hospital was orally claiming the figure had dropped to 2.9 by 10:45 am on 18 July. She wrote that as of that time, 'no reports have been given to us,' raising concerns about transparency in his medical care.
Background: The Hunger Strike and Protest
Wangchuk had been on a hunger strike for 20 days at Jantar Mantar before his hospitalisation. The agitation was being led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which is demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak. Wangchuk, widely known as a climate activist and innovator from Ladakh, had joined the protest as an educationist.
Police personnel reached the protest site on Saturday morning and shifted Wangchuk to the hospital amid sloganeering and protests by CJP activists and members of the public gathered at the site.
CJP Founder Alleges Police Assault
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged on Saturday that Delhi Police 'beat' him and dragged him on the road while he was attempting to reach Jantar Mantar after Wangchuk's removal. Dipke accused the police of forcibly shifting Wangchuk from the protest site and announced that he would himself begin a hunger strike from Saturday. He asserted that the protest would continue.
What Happens Next
The standoff between Wangchuk's family and hospital authorities over medical consent and report-sharing is likely to intensify scrutiny of how authorities have handled his hospitalisation. The CJP's agitation over the NEET-UG paper leak remains active, and the protest at Jantar Mantar is expected to continue despite Wangchuk's absence.
Point of View
With the hospital communicating orally and withholding written reports, raise legitimate questions about transparency. That a prominent activist was removed from a public protest site by police and taken to hospital without apparent family coordination will draw comparisons to past instances of state-managed 'medical interventions' against agitators. The NEET-UG protest itself remains politically combustible, and how the government handles Wangchuk's health in custody could either defuse or inflame it.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sonam Wangchuk shifted to Safdarjung Hospital?
Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi on the morning of 18 July 2026 after his health deteriorated following 21 days of hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. Police personnel reached the protest site and moved him to the hospital amid protests by CJP activists.
What did Sonam Wangchuk's wife write to the hospital?
Gitanjali J. Angmo wrote to the Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital demanding that no oral or intravenous substance be administered to Wangchuk without her consent. She also demanded transparent sharing of all medical reports before any treatment is given.
What is the dispute over Wangchuk's potassium levels?
Angmo stated that Wangchuk's potassium level was 4.3 as of 17 July 2026 at 4:16 pm, which is within normal range. However, by 10:45 am on 18 July, the hospital was orally claiming the level had dropped to 2.9, without providing any written medical reports to the family.
What is the CJP protest about?
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) is leading a protest demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak. Sonam Wangchuk had joined the agitation as an educationist and went on a hunger strike in support.
What did CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke allege about Delhi Police?
Abhijeet Dipke alleged that Delhi Police beat him and dragged him on the road while he was trying to reach Jantar Mantar after Wangchuk's removal. He accused the police of forcibly shifting Wangchuk from the protest site and announced he would begin his own hunger strike from Saturday.
