- Security arrangements in place for public safety: police.
- Activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly moved to the hospital.
- Wangchuk says March will be “India’s 2nd freedom movement”.
Police in India have refused permission for a march on parliament by supporters of the youth-led “Cockroach” movement on Monday, risking a standstill as calls to fire Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s education minister over the leak of exam papers grow.
The movement has been galvanized since police forcibly moved hunger-striking activist Sonam Wangchuk to hospital on Saturday as hundreds of supporters gathered at a protest site ahead of a planned march on the opening day of the monsoon session of Parliament.
While the movement initially drew support largely online – amassing 22 million followers on Instagram within days of its formation in May, after the leak of exam papers affected millions – it has since broadened its appeal, posing a major challenge to Modi.
Wangchuk, 59, said in a message sent by his wife on X Sunday that the planned march would be “India’s 2nd FREEDOM MOVEMENT” and would be for “freedom from injustice (like paper leaks)” and “freedom from fear (my illegal detention)”.
But police said orders are in place in the New Delhi district banning gatherings of five or more people, except at a designated site – the Jantar Mantar observatory – where protesters have already been camping for more than three weeks.
“As the Parliament session commences from July 20, strict security arrangements are in place to ensure public safety, security of patrons and protection of vital public installations,” police said on X.
The Cockroach Janta Party said the march would go ahead as planned.
“The march is definitely happening. We’re figuring out the rest,” said a spokesman, who asked not to be named before finalizing their plans.
Young people angry about unemployment, exam paper leaks
Earlier in the day, a Delhi court said authorities were within their rights to move Wangchuk to a state hospital because he had not admitted himself despite his deteriorating health.
Judge Mini Pushkarna said the doctors had only administered oral fluids and nutritional supplements with Wangchuk’s consent, adding: “It cannot be said that force is used against Mr. Sonam Wangchuk or that his bodily autonomy is violated in any way.”
Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, had sought permission to transfer him to the privately run Medanta Hospital, and her lawyers argued that she had the right to have him treated at a hospital of her choice.
The government opposed the request, saying it had to be cautious about Wangchuk’s health and that his wife and close family members had been given round-the-clock access to him.
Referring to the heavy police presence at the hospital, Angmo said on X “it’s not medical care. It’s illegal detention”.
Safdarjung Hospital said Wangchuk’s vital parameters were stable, although his blood parameters remained “marginally changed” and he required round-the-clock monitoring.
The emergence of the “Cockroach” movement reflects frustrations among young Indians over issues such as high youth unemployment and frequent leaks of exam papers.
