The wife of an Indian hunger striker who was taken to hospital against his will on Sunday accused the government of “illegal detention” disguised as medical aid.
Police cited a court order and “deteriorating health condition” on Saturday when they picked up Sonam Wangchuk, who had refused to eat since June 28 in protest against alleged college exam cheating.
The activist, 59, has called for the education minister’s resignation after the leak of test material resulted in more than 2 million students being forced to retake exams.
Gitanjali J Angmo, Wangchuk’s wife, said she “lost faith” in the public hospital, which she said denied her wish to move her husband to a private facility.
“With about 30 police officers stationed on our floor and well over 100 across the hospital, our movements are severely restricted,” Angmo said.
“It is not medical treatment. It is illegal detention,” she said, adding that she asked the High Court to allow her to move Wangchuk.
The hospital said late Saturday that Wangchuk had not yet consented to recommended medical procedures.
“Despite repeated advice from the treating team and the independent expert regarding the urgent need for treatment, the patient has refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and all medications,” the hospital said.
India’s parliamentary session starts on Monday, and opposition parties have backed Wangchuk and ongoing protests in New Delhi, where a few hundred students had joined him around his stage in recent weeks.
Several political groups and farmers’ groups are expected to reach the protest venue in New Delhi, Jantar Mantar, to demonstrate during the Parliament session.
The founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) online movement, Abhijeet Dipke, on Saturday announced an indefinite hunger strike after Wangchuk was shifted to hospital.
About 2.2 million aspiring medical students sat for a re-exam under tight security last month after the earlier test was scrapped following a leak that sparked widespread outrage and fueled youth protests.
