Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike highlights: Doctors say activist's health critical, warn ‘next stage can be alarming’

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• Sharing a health update on the 19th day of Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike, Dr Satish Lamba said that the climate activist's weight has dropped by 9kgs. He said Wangchuk was critical, adding that the next stage can be “alarming.”

• Stand-up comedian Samay Raina, actors Sana Fatima Shaikh and Sonakshi Sinha backed Wangchuk.

• AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal met Wangchuk, and said exam paper leaks “cripple the confidence” of students. He called for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and proposed Wangchuk's name as education minister.

• The Indian National Congress on Thursday appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike, saying they shared his concerns.

• The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his ongoing fast, saying the country needed him to remain "alive, active and engaged" rather than risk his health and life for a system in distress.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on Thursday appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his ongoing fast, saying the country needed him to remain "alive, active and engaged" rather than risk his health and life for a system in distress.

In a resolution adopted by its Executive Committee, the SCBA expressed concern over Wangchuk's fast undertaken to draw attention to issues surrounding the NEET examinations and the broader state of the education system, PTI news agency reported.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Former Kerala chief minister and leader of opposition in the state Assembly Pinarayi Vijayan in a Facebook post said reports about Sonam Wangchuk's health were concerning.

Accusing the Centre of gross negligence, Vijayan said that the Delhi High Court's intervention in the matter “shows the depth of the government's failure.” “It is absolutely shameful for a democratic society that the highest courts of the country have to reprimand the government to protect the life of a citizen who is fighting for justice,” he said.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Trinamool Congress chief and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised the Centre for not reaching out to activist Sonam Wangchuk.

“Even after Sonam's prolonged hunger strike, no government official met him. What is wrong with talking? A person's life is at risk, yet you are unwilling to show even basic courtesy,” Banerjee said, according to PTI news agency. She added, “He is sitting under the open sky during the monsoon, with thunder, lightning, and rain above, while the administration continues to intimidate him. This politics of fear and intimidation must end.”

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil urged climate activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike, PTI news agency reported.

Describing the Ladakh-based activist as "a national asset", the former Maharashtra minister said he should not be forced to risk his life because of the government's refusal to act responsibly.

In a post on X, Patil asserted Wangchuk's "modest demand" was that the minister concerned accept moral responsibility and resign over repeated examination paper leaks, which had jeopardised the future of countless young people across the country. "I sincerely appeal to him to withdraw his indefinite hunger strike and preserve his health and life," the Opposition MLA said in the post.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Activist Sonam Wangchuk's health condition has entered a critical stage, and the next phase “can be alarming”, doctors warned on Thursday, according to PTI news agency.

According to the latest medical bulletin issued by Dr Satish Lamba, Wangchuk has lost more than nine kg since beginning his hunger strike on June 28. He now weighs 56.9 kg. Dr Lamba said, “After glucose reserves are exhausted, the body consumes fat. After that, muscles begin to get consumed. His ketone level had reached 3-plus and, after improving hydration, it has come down to 2-plus. His uric acid is high, which indicates that muscles are being consumed.”

He added, “The next stage can be alarming. Organs can be impacted. We are keeping him under 24x7 vigilance and hope it does not reach that stage.”

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav on Thursday urged the Centre to initiate dialogue with Sonam Wangchuk and address the demands raised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

“The CJP will decide when to break the fast. I want to tell the government to show some sensitivity and start a dialogue. Stop being insensitive. You talk about Sanatan Dharma. Without mercy and empathy, Sanatan Dharma cannot survive,” she told reporters, according to PTI news agency.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday criticised the union government while speaking at the Jantar Mantar.

Kejriwal claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “afraid” to appoint reformers like Wangchuk to the cabinet because of their “revolutionary steps”.

“Exam papers are being leaked constantly, day after day. There are irregularities in the papers and flaws in the evaluation process.” Kejriwal said.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday visited Sonam Wangchuk at the Jantar Mantar, saying it was at the same place that he had held a protest with Anna Hazare in 2011.

“It was at this very place that I sat with Anna Hazare in April 2011. I urge the government to listen to Sonam Wangchuk, otherwise it will face the same fate three years from now,” he said.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: The Indian National Congress on Thursday appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike, saying they shared his concerns.

“Shri Sonam Wangchuk has now been on a hunger strike for 19 days, demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister. The Indian National Congress has been making this very demand for over a month and a half,” Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal said in a post on X. He added that the Congress shared the “anguish and outrage that Shri Wangchuk ji feels”.

“In view of his health condition, we appeal to Shri Wangchuk to end his fast. His concerns are our concerns and that of other Opposition parties as well. Rest assured, we will continue to confront the Modi government and demand the Education Minister's resignation,” the Congress leader said.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: AAP leader and former Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said he had not asked party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on whether he would be attending CJP's July 20 march to Parliament.

However, Bharadwaj said he will join the march, adding that AAP supporters would also participate.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Addressing protestors at Jantar Mantar, AAP leader and former Delhi health minister, Saurabh Bhardwaj, appealed to people to join the Parliament March on July 20.

As Bhardwaj called for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the AAP leader took a jibe at Smriti Irani and joked that the BJP-led government should make her the next minister.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh called on the youth of the country to join in on the march to the Parliament on July 20.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Taking the stage at Jantar Mantar, Arvind Kejriwal stated that paper leaks in national and state level exams have "crippled the confidence of the youth."

The AAP leader, who arrived at the site to meet Sonam Wangchuk, addressed the crowd as he called for accountability from the BJP-led centre.

"The way papers have started leaking nowadays has crippled the confidence of students, this is very dangerous for the country," Kejriwal said.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has arrived at Jantar Mantar to meet activist Sonam Wangchuk. Wangchuk is currently on Day 19 of his indefinite hunger strike.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Actor Aditi Rao Hydari has also announced support for Sonam Wangchuk. In a post on Instagram, the actor shared a photo of the climate activist, innovator and education reformer with the caption: “Political differences shape a nation’s politics. Humanity shapes its character. This life is invaluable.”

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Aam Aadmi Party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal is slated to meet activist Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar today. As per reports, the former Delhi chief minister is expected to reach the protest site at 5pm.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Actor Sonakshi Sinha has voiced support for activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party in a message on social media. Posted on Thursday, the Bollywood star has called for accountability from the government and to take action against the irregularities faced by the students and youth of this country.

In a reel on Instagram, Sinha called on the government to respond and asked, “when is it going to be enough?” as she raised concerns over Wangchuk's health.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Thursday appealed to activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his indefinite hunger strike and dubbed the BJP-led Centre as "anti-people", asserting that such a government had no right to stay in power.

He urged Wangchuk to end his fast, saying the government couldn't care less about him but the youth was with him and there were many more battles to be fought in the future.

"Why are the youth agitating? So many paper leaks have happened but Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not resigned. There will be no resignation by Pradhan, because that is their policy. They have nothing to do with the people. Such a government is anti-people, and it has no right to stay in power," Sibal said at a press conference.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Actor Fatima Sana Shaikh took to Instagram and supported Sonam Wangchuk, saying he shouldn't have to rish his health “just to be heard”.

“Whatever your politics, a student’s future is worth protecting. It’s really very heartbreaking to watch someone like him deteriorate like this. I hope this ends with dialogue, not us losing Sonam Wangchuk!,” the actor wrote on Instagram.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav on Thursday met Sonam Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar. The CJP thanked the leader for paying a visit.

“Your support strengthens the voice and resolve of millions of students,” CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said in a tweet.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday voiced concern over the health of activist Sonam Wangchuk, saying the Centre should have appealed to him to end his fast as there should be some room for humanity and compassion even in politics.

"It has been many days since he sat on a hunger strike. As far as I know, he has only one demand that due to irregularities in the NEET exam and the cancellation of the exam, which caused a lot of trouble and tension for the children, the Education Minister should either resign or be removed from his post," Abdullah told reporters.

"The surprising thing is that it has been 18 days for him, perhaps the 19th day is going on. He has lost around 9 kg of weight, and it is affecting his health. But the government is not budging, not appealing to him in any way to stop his hunger strike. Politics has its place, but somewhere there should also be a place for humanity and compassion," the National Conference leader added.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Stand-up comedian Samay Raina has backed Sonam Wangchuk amid the ongoing hunger strike at Jantar Mantar. “Hoping and praying that he's okay and that this ends soon with a dialogue,” Raina said in an Instagram story, sharing Wangchuk's picture.

Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike LIVE: Sharing a health update on the 19th day of Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike, Dr Satish Lamba said that the climate activist's weight has dropped by 9kgs.

"The next stage can be alarming. Organs can be impacted. We are keeping him under 24x7 vigilance and hope it does not reach that stage. I urge the government to intervene as soon as possible because he is a precious gem and we do not want to lose him. If organs get impacted, it can be really alarming for us," Lamba said.