<div class="medium-insert-images ui-sortable">
<figure contenteditable="false">
<img src="https://www.geo.tv/assets/uploads/updates/2026-07-18/673638_503385_updates.jpg" alt="Abhijeet Dipke, leader of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), holds hands with Sonam Wangchuk, an Indian education reformer, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, July 18, 2026. — Reuters" width="700" height="400" class=""/>
<figcaption contenteditable="true" class="">Abhijeet Dipke, leader of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), holds hands with Sonam Wangchuk, an Indian education reform advocate, at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, July 18, 2026. — Reuters</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<ul>
<li><strong>Wangchuk, 59, calls for the education minister's resignation.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Protesters attempt to obstruct efforts to move him.</strong></li>
<li><strong>Opposition parties express support for Wangchuk.</strong></li>
</ul>
<hr class="editorHr"/>
<p>Authorities in Delhi forcibly transported activist Sonam Wangchuk to a hospital on Saturday due to health concerns after he endured a 20-day hunger strike protesting India’s examination system.</p>
<p>Wangchuk, 59, had been fasting since June 28 demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exams.</p>
<p>In recent weeks, hundreds of students joined Wangchuk at his stage in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, with additional protests organized online by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party movement.</p>
<p>"Following the orders of the high court and upon expert medical advice regarding Sonam Wangchuk’s worsening health, he has been moved to a hospital for necessary treatment," stated a deputy commissioner of Delhi police.</p>
<p>"While complying with these directives, protesters attempted to create disruptions, leading to minor commotion," the statement added. "We urge protesters at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the area at the earliest."</p>
<p>A video from Jantar Mantar showed confusion among some supporters early this morning as police, carrying white sheets, hurriedly removed Wangchuk from the stage.</p>
<p>A court in New Delhi ordered government doctors on Thursday to monitor Wangchuk’s health daily. The court emphasized that “every citizen’s life is valuable," noting a petition by activist lawyer Rakesh Kumar Saini warning Wangchuk might not survive unless he ends his fast.</p>
<p>"All necessary medical measures to save Sonam Wangchuk’s life should be taken," the Delhi High Court declared.</p>
<p>Wangchuk, trained as an engineer, is renowned for pioneering water conservation efforts in the Himalayas.</p>
<p>Just hours before his hospital transfer, Wangchuk remarked: “Many governments in India have been toppled by smaller movements... and this is about education.”</p>
<p>Last month, approximately 2.2 million aspiring medical students sat for a re-examination after the previous test was canceled due to a paper leak, causing widespread outrage.</p>
<p>This exam failure, along with a separate high school testing mishap, led to protests and public outcry among youth groups.</p>
<p>Support for Wangchuk and student activists has come from various opposition figures.</p>