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A doctor, right, examines educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk
POLICE forcibly transferred a prominent activist to a hospital in New Delhi on Saturday after his health deteriorated during a 20-day hunger strike tied to India’s viral Cockroach Janta Party movement for education reform.
Authorities tightened security around New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, a designated public protest ground enclosed by police barricades, where activist Sonam Wangchuk has been camped along with students and Cockroach Party activists who demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, after allegations that exam papers were leaked in advance.
The movement also seeks sweeping reforms to the examination system and compensation for families of students who died by suicide over the leaks or exam results.
The Cockroach Party began in May after Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant compared some unemployed young people to “cockroaches” during a hearing on another issue. Supporters turned the comments into a satirical political campaign that amassed more than 21 million Instagram followers in a few days.
Delhi Police said Mr Wangchuk was taken to hospital after his health worsened during the hunger strike, and that a brief commotion occurred when some protesters tried to block the move.
Sachin Sharma, a deputy commissioner of police, claimed that Mr Wangchuk’s hospitalisation was carried out following medical advice and a court directive.
“Mr Sonam Wangchuk has been taken from here to an appropriate government hospital, a much-needed medical intervention, under medical supervision,” Mr Sharma said.
The Cockroach Party said in a social media post that the government “forcefully abducted” Mr Wangchuk “without his or his family’s consent” two days before their planned march to India’s Parliament.
Shortly after the incident, Abhijeet Dipke, a Boston University student and founder of the Cockroach Party, announced he would begin his own hunger strike.
Mr Dipke called for nationwide protests and confirmed the movement’s plan to march to India’s Parliament on Monday, when its session begins.
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