As their protest to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan entered Day 29, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged Saturday morning that he was “beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police” who “forcefully” took activist Sonam Wangchuk away.
DCP (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma said Wangchuk was “shifted” to a government hospital “for much-needed medical intervention” in accordance with the “orders of the Hon’ble High Court, and based on his health condition and medical advice”.
Delhi Police has also requested protesters to “peacefully vacate” Jantar Mantar.
However, Dipke while declaring that he has launched an indefinite hunger strike told supporters that the eaceful march to Parliament on 20 July will go ahead as planned.
Stay tuned to ThePrint for LIVE UPDATES on Sonam Wangchuk hunger strike and the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.
CJP protest | AS IT HAPPENED
11.30 pm: Updates to this blog have ended
10 pm: ‘Wangchuk’s condition warrants immediate intervention’
A bulletin issued at 9 PM Saturday by Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital said Sonam Wangchuk “remains conscious and haemodynamically stable” and that his “pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation are currently within normal limits”.
It, however, added that the activist is “exhibiting clinical signs of dehydration, and in view of his prolonged fasting, his condition warrants immediate medical intervention to prevent further deterioration and potentially serious complications”.
The bulletin also said that an “independent expert from AIIMS, New Delhi examined” Wangchuk and “concurred with the treating team’s assessment that immediate oral/intravenous fluid and electrolyte therapy is medically indicated”.
“An AIIMS doctor has also joined the treating team and will remain continuously available for monitoring and clinical management,” it added.
The bulletin went on to say that despite “repeated counselling by the treating team and the independent expert regarding the urgent need for treatment, the patient has declined intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and all medications”.
“The patient’s family has also not yet provided consent for the recommended medical intervention,” it said, adding the “treating team is making every effort to counsel the patient and his family to provide consent and accept the recommended treatment at the earliest in the interest of safeguarding his health…”
7 pm: Delhi police didn’t allow us to visit Wangchuk, says Brittas
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas told media persons outside Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital Saturday evening that he secured permission from the Director of the facility to see activist Sonam Wangchuk but Delhi Police stopped him from doing so.
“…There’s a virtual martial rule in this country. Hospitals have been taken over by the Delhi Police…Despite discussing with the Director, who permitted us to see Sonam Wangchuk on the condition that we shouldn’t be filming it and we shouldn’t allow anybody else to come with us…Delhi Police did not allow us to meet Sonam Wangchuk,” he said.
6 pm: Wangchuk removal ‘tipping point’?
Anger among protesters at Jantar Mantar is palpable. After activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for the past 20 days, was “forcibly removed” from the protest site early Saturday morning and taken to Safdarjung Hospital in central Delhi for treatment, protesters are refusing to leave Jantar Mantar despite repeated requests by security personnel.
Read this report by Mayank Kumar on hundreds rallying behind Dipke at Jantar Mantar.
5 pm: ‘Lack of transparency is making us suspicious,’ says Gitanjali Angmo
Reacting to the bulletin, Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo wrote on X Saturday evening that Safdarjung Hospitals report says Wangchuk’s “potassium level is 2.9 whereas just yesterday it was 4.3. They are not allowing me to either get a second opinion by taking him to another lab not are they giving me his blood sample in my presence which i can get tested elsewhere.
“I have been waiting since 3 hours but they haven’t obliged us yet. This lack of transparency is making us suspicious and we have asked to be discharged immediately so that we can go to a hospital that we are comfortable with. We are awaiting their response for the last 2 hours.”
Safdarjung Hospitals report says @Wangchuk66’s potassium level is 2.9 whereas just yesterday it was 4.3. They are not allowing me to either get a second opinion by taking him to another lab not are they giving me his blood sample in my presence which i can get tested elsewhere. I…
— Gitanjali J Angmo (@GitanjaliAngmo) July 18, 2026
4.30 pm: CJP changes tack, demands Modi’s resignation
Hours after Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke said the protest will not end with the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the viral political movement put out a social media post demanding the resignation of PM Narendra Modi.
“Until now, we were demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, but after this despicable act, we will now demand the resignation of Narendra Modi,” Dipke had said, referring to activist Sonam Wangchuk’s removal from Jantar Mantar by Delhi Police.
Narendra Modi ji must resign! pic.twitter.com/27bJTs2D5t
— Cockroach Janta Party (@CJP_for_India) July 18, 2026
4 pm: ‘Intravenous fluids advised but Wangchuk has refused’
Activist Sonam Wangchuk was “conscious with stable pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation” at the time of admission, according to a 3.30 PM health bulletin by Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital.
It went on to add that there is “no history of fainting attacks”, “blood gas analysis revealed compensated acidosis with decreased serum potassium with blood sugar of 78 mg/dl” and “repeat Serum Potassium was similar”.
“Urinary ketones were 1+ at the time of admission which have increased to 3+ by 1:00 PM,” the bulletin said, adding that “intravenous fluids were advised but the patient has refused all intravenous fluids, oral rehydration fluid or any other medication”.
3.45 pm: Wangchuk’s removal was wrong, says Rahul
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi wrote on X that Sonam Wangchuk’s removal from Jantar Mantar “while he was on a non-violent hunger strike is wrong”.
He then took aim at the Centre, saying the “core tenets of the Modi government are Asatya and Hinsa” and that no amount of force can deter India’s students and “those of us who love and believe in them, from raising these issues”.
The core tenets of the Modi government are Asatya and Hinsa.
The removal of Sonam Wangchuk ji from Jantar Mantar while he was on a non-violent hunger strike is wrong.
Paper leaks, the rising cost of education, and student suicides are critical issues for India’s future.
No…
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 18, 2026
1.45 pm: Citizens can bear cost of Wangchuk’s treatment, says Mamata
Trinamool Congress (TMC) and former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, too, said in a post on X that she was “deeply concerned” about Wangchuk’s health. “He asked only for dialogue, yet his appeal has been met with silence for weeks. In a democracy, peaceful dissent deserves engagement, not silence,” she wrote.
Adding, “He (Wangchuk) should be allowed to be shifted to a private hospital, with citizens free to bear the cost if needed.”
Deeply concerned about Sonam Wangchuk's health and well-being. He asked only for dialogue, yet his appeal has been met with silence for weeks. In a democracy, peaceful dissent deserves engagement, not silence.
His voice has been ignored, just as the voices of countless young…
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 18, 2026
1.30 pm: Woman held for throwing ink at Dipke
Delhi Police has detained a woman from Jantar Mantar for throwing ink at CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, who is sitting on an indefinite hunger strike following the removal of activist Sonam Wangchuk from the protest site by Delhi Police.
(Inputs by Mayank Kumar)
1.15 pm: Wangchuk still fasting, says wife Gitanjali
Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo told the media that he is still fasting.
“The fast is continuing because he isn’t consuming any sugar. He’s only taking water with salt that he was consuming earlier…I’m grateful that the government cared enough to bring him here, but we’ll handle next steps ourselves; there’s no need for government interference in this matter. He’s definitely weak and losing muscle mass, which happens during any fast, but he’s alert and very strong,” she said.
Angmo also disputed Delhi Police’s statement that Wangchuk’s removal from Jantar Mantar was in accordance with the High Court order. “…it (court order) didn’t order hospitalisation…No treatment is underway right now. Only observation and tests are being conducted, and we’re actually going to get the tests done at an external lab. Since they aren’t providing the reports we requested, and regarding the figures they are citing like the potassium level reaching 2.9. It was 4.3 yesterday, so it couldn’t have changed to that today. We want to cross-check this with another lab before administering any medication,” she said.
Angmo, it is learnt, has urged authorities in two handwritten letters to shift Wangchuk to a medical facility of her choice. She has also requested that no medicines or intravenous fluids be administered to Wangchuk without her consent while expressing concerns over the hospital’s handling of his care.
(Inputs by Suraj Singh Bisht)
1 pm: March to Parliament to go ahead as scheduled, says CJP
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka has confirmed that the peaceful march to Parliament on 20 July, the first day of the Monsoon Session, will go ahead as planned.
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has appealed to supporters not to back down.
“…this movement will only grow larger. They have made a grave mistake…I urge everyone to come to Jantar Mantar; our movement will continue from here, and we will proceed with our march scheduled for 20 July,” he said.
12 pm: Congress calls Wangchuk’s removal ‘stain on democracy’
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a statement on X said Delhi Police’s action at Jantar Mantar on the morning of 18 July is “yet another black stain on democracy and the Constitution”.
“In their eyes, anyone who raises their voice is an ‘anti-national’, a ‘parasite’,” he said, taking aim at the central government.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera in a statement on X said Delhi Police’s action at Jantar Mantar, less than 24 hours after a new Commissioner of Police took charge, “sends a chilling message: political obedience takes precedence over Constitutional duty”.
“Our Constitution guarantees the right to dissent. The Home Ministry appears determined to deny it,” said Khera.
Our Constitution guarantees the right to dissent. The Home Ministry appears determined to deny it.
The Delhi Police reports directly to the Home Ministry – the very Ministry that appointed a new Police Commissioner in Delhi just yesterday. If today's crackdown is his first…
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 ಪವನ್ ಖೇರಾ (@Pawankhera) July 18, 2026
11.30 am: AISF, SFI join protest at Jantar Mantar
Activists affiliated with the All India Students Federation (AISF) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) officially joined the protest at Jantar Mantar.
In a statement issued Saturday, SFI said, “Forcefully removing Sonam Wangchuk will not stop the movement! Neha, Manish and Aameen continue their hunger strike on day 21!”
It added, “In the early hours of 18th July, the Delhi Police’s new commissioner proved his allegiance to his lords by the brutal detention of Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar mantar in a sly and snide manner. Several people were manhandled and attacked in the process. Sonam Wangchuk has been taken to Safdarjung hospital against his will.
“The Police then tried to attack the students in AISA’s tent but hundreds of students formed a human chain to prevent violence against Neha, Manish and Aameen, owing to which the police retreated. The hunger strike by the 3 AISA leaders continues on the 21st Day despite all attempts by the Delhi Police…”
11 am: Yogendra Yadav, Brinda Karat at Jantar Mantar
Political activist Yogendra Yadav and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat reached Jantar Mantar to meet Abhijeet Dipke and protesters
(Inputs by Mayank Kumar)
10.45 am: Akhilesh demands Wangchuk be treated ‘under judicial oversight’
Samajwadi Party (SP) chief and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has demanded that medical care be administered to activist Sonam Wangchuk under ‘judicial oversight’.
The ‘forcible removal’ Wangchuk is an utterly reprehensible development, he said, adding that the identities of those ‘who sneaked in suddenly under deceptive plainclothes to carry out this action must be made public’.
श्री सोनम वांगचुक जी को ‘बल-प्रयोग’ करके, ज़बरदस्ती उनके आमरण अनशन स्थल से उठाकर ले जाना अत्यंत निंदनीय समाचार है। आज सुबह घटी ये घटना थोड़ी ही देर में पूरे देश और संपूर्ण विश्व में फैल चुकी है। सारी दुनिया और देशभर में श्री सोनम वांगचुक जी को लेकर गहरी चिंता है और भाजपा सरकार के…
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 18, 2026
10.30 am: ‘Wangchuk stable, needs continuous observation’
Delhi’s state-run Safdarjung Hospital has issued a media bulletin saying activist Sonam Wangchuck was admitted to the facility “for required health care” at 7.40 am Saturday.
“He is weak due to prolonged fasting and dehydration. Although he is currently stable, he requires continuous observation, monitoring and treatment to restore his body parameters,” the bulletin added.
Dr Charu Bamba, Medical Superintendent at Safdarjung Hospital, told news agency ANI, “He (Wangchuk) is fully alert and stable. Initially, the Emergency Medicine Department attended to him upon his arrival, and he has now been admitted under the Department of Medicine. He is fully conscious, and all parameters are stable.
“We will keep him for a while because there are signs of dehydration affecting his electrolyte levels. We will correct these and then review his condition again…”
(Inputs by Mayank Kumar)
10.15 am: Kejriwal, Priyanka Chaturvedi react to Delhi Police action
Reacting to Delhi Police taking Sonam Wangchuk away from Jantar Mantar, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal says in a post on X that the central government should’ve instead initiated dialogue with the activist who had been on a an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since 28 June.
Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, too, criticised the action by Delhi Police, while adding that the CJP “cant (sic) make Wangchuk the sacrificial lamb for their political ambitions”.
MA Baby, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in a statement criticised the government for “coming down with a heavy hand on peaceful protesters”.
“Silencing dissent cannot be a substitute for accountability,” he said.
Lok Sabha MP and Azad Samaj Party chief Chandra Shekhar Aazad, too, put out a statement saying the “forcible removal” of Wangchuk “along with the assault on and detention of his companions, is utterly reprehensible and a direct assault on democratic values.”
10 am: Dimple Yadav shares video of Wangchuk being taken away
Samajwadi Party (SP) Member of Parliament Dimple Yadav, who was at Jantar Mantar just two days ago, shared a video on X showing activist Sonam Wangchuk being taken away by men in white t-shirts.
9.50 am: Wangchuk’s wife with him at Safdarjung Hospital
Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo has put out a statement saying she is with him at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital and “nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenous without take consent from me, his family and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days”.
I am at Safdarjung hospital in Delhi where @Wangchuk66 has been admitted. Nothing should be administered to him orally or intravenous without take consent from me, his family and his doctors who have been monitoring his health for the past 20 days.
— Gitanjali J Angmo (@GitanjaliAngmo) July 18, 2026
On 16 July, while disposing off a Public Interest Litigation, the Delhi High Court had after hearing submissions Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, according to Bar and Bench, observed that the “life of any citizen is precious and all efforts ought to be made by govt authorities to save the same”.
“SG has stated that his health condition will be monitored on daily basis by govt doctors/experts. He further assures the court that depending on the opinion of the doctors, whatever medical interventions needed will also be taken…We appreciate the stance taken by SG and accordingly direct that the medical condition of Wangchuk shall be clinically and otherwise regularly monitored on daily basis and depending on the opinion of the doctors, whatever medical intervention is required to check his deteriorating health condition shall also be taken,” the legal portal quoted the division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia as having said.
9.45 am: Dipke launches hunger strike at Jantar Mantar
Addressing supporters, Dipke said he was ‘assaulted’ and Wangchuk ‘dragged away’ by Delhi Police from Jantar Mantar. The CJP founder then declared that he has taken Wangchuk’s place and begun an indefinite hunger strike.
(Inputs by Suraj Singh Bisht)
9.30 am: ‘Will now demand Modi’s resignation,’ says Dipke
Addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke says, “If they think that taking Sonam Sir away will end this movement, they are mistaken. We will remain here, and will march to Parliament on 20 July.”
“Until now, we were demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, but after this despicable act, we will now demand the resignation of Narendra Modi,” he adds.
(Inputs by Suraj Singh Bisht)
9.20 am: Delhi Police ask protesters to vacate Jantar Mantar
Within 10 minutes of Dipke alleging on X that the Delhi Police was ‘cracking down’ on Jantar Mantar, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) put out a statement saying activist Sonam Wangchuk was “shifted” to a hospital for “essential medical care” in accordance with the orders of the High Court and on “expert medical advise (sic)”.
“While complying with the orders of Hon’ble High Court the protestors tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued, however police took maximum restrain (sic) and undertook the exercise safely,” the statement added.
It also requested protesters to “peacefully vacate” Jantar Mantar “at the earliest”.
As per orders of Hon’ble High Court and on expert medical advise due to the deteriorating health condition of Sh. Sonam Wangchuk, he has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care.
While complying with the orders of Hon’ble High Court the protestors tried to create…
— DCP New Delhi (@DCPNewDelhi) July 18, 2026
Responding to the DCP’s statement, CJP said in a post on X: “How did you decide his health has deteriorated Delhi police suddenly in early morning even without medical check.”
“He was monitored last evening by YOUR GOVT DOCTORS WHO ADVISED NOTHING BUT MONITORING HIS HEALTH. DID YOU CHECK HIS VITALS IN THE MORNING BEFORE WHISKING HIM AWAY?”
How did you decide his health has deteriorated Delhi police suddenly in early morning even without medical check.
He was monitored last evening by YOUR GOVT DOCTORS WHO ADVISED NOTHING BUT MONITORING HIS HEALTH.
DID YOU CHECK HIS VITALS IN THE MORNING BEFORE WHISKING HIM AWAY? https://t.co/gtJpQNgNSs
— Cockroach is Back (@Cockroachisback) July 18, 2026
The action by Delhi Police came less than 24 hours after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a surprise move, appointed Anurag Kumar, a 1994-batch IPS officer of the AGMUT cadre, as the next Police Commissioner of Delhi.
Kumar, who earlier headed the J&K desk at the Intelligence Bureau (IB), took over charge from outgoing Commissioner of Police Satish Golcha the same day.
Read this report by Mayank Kumar to know more.
9.15 am: Dipke alleges ‘crackdown’ at Jantar Mantar
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke has alleged that Delhi Police ‘cracked down’ at protesters in Jantar Mantar, “beating up people and taking away Sonam sir forcefully”.
In a later post, Dipke said he was “beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police”.
The previous night, Dipke had alleged that “goons tried to attack” Wangchuk at Jantar Mantar by hurling an object at him “but fortunately, he was not hurt”.
The founder of the viral political movement also said that there were “multiple incidents where people created disturbances, yet the police failed to respond for hours”.
Read this report by Ananya Bhardwaj to know more.
Delhi Police is cracking down at Jantar Mantar. Beating up people and taking away Sonam sir forcefully
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 18, 2026
I have been beaten up and put under detention by Delhi Police
— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) July 18, 2026
In pictures: A quiet resolve: Sonam Wangchuk continues his indefinite hunger strike. A day at Jantar Mantar
Changing tack or showing unhealthy amounts of disrespect to the mandate of the electorate ?! What happened to Gen Z and paper leaks ? Everything has taken a back seat ! Now the protest has itself become about propping individuals ! Familiar and old script. Expected better from so called youngsters. Maybe they are learning the same bad habits from the elders.
CJP wants him die ???. They are not asking for a specific reform. They are blackmailing the govt. They could have asked for set of reasonable reforms in reservations so that genuinely needed people can benefit, private education cost(state subject too), reforms in recruitment, and more scholarships for merit, so on. All they want is to burn the country like Nepal and Bangladesh and bring a puppet govt run by undemocraticlly appointed interim PM (Kejriwal or Raga or Sonam Wangchuk).