Delhi police hospitalise Sonam Wangchuk, opposition cries foul

Sonam Wangchuk, a well‑known social worker, was taken to a Delhi hospital on Saturday after a prolonged 20‑day hunger strike left her health in a critical state. The police move sparked immediate condemnation from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who used the social‑media site X to allege that the central government relies on "false narratives and brute force".

Gandhi referenced the hashtag #studentsgool, arguing that the removal of Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar while she was on a non‑violent protest was a breach of democratic norms. He also linked the incident to larger issues such as the paper‑leak scandal, rising education expenses, and a surge in student suicides, calling them severe threats to the nation’s future.

In addition to Gandhi, fellow opposition members Pawan Khera, Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar and Sanjay Raut voiced their disapproval. Banerjee posted that Wangchuk’s voice was being silenced, a pattern she says repeats for many young Indians. Pawar warned that the government anticipated her arrest within a week, while Raut described the police act as an outright authoritarian diversion.