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The wife of Indian hunger strike activist Sonam Wangchuk has accused the country’s government of illegally detaining him after he was taken to hospital against his will.
Wangchuk, 59, has been on a hunger strike since June 28 to protest alleged fraud in university examinations.
He has demanded the education minister’s resignation following the leak of examination materials, which forced more than 2 million students to retake their exams.
Police took him into custody on Saturday, citing a court order and his “deteriorating health condition.”
His wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, said she had “lost faith” in the government hospital, accusing authorities of refusing her request to transfer her husband to a private medical facility.
“With around 30 police personnel stationed on our floor and well over 100 across the hospital, our movement is severely restricted,” Angmo said.
“It is not medical care. It is illegal detention,” she added, saying she had asked the High Court to allow Wangchuk’s transfer.
The hospital said on Saturday that Wangchuk had not consented to the recommended medical treatment.
“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 hospital said.
India’s parliamentary session begins on Monday, with opposition parties throwing their support behind Wangchuk and the ongoing protests in New Delhi, where several hundred students have joined his demonstrations in recent weeks.
Several political and farmers’ groups are also expected to converge on the protest site at Jantar Mantar during the parliamentary session.
Meanwhile, Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) online movement, announced an indefinite hunger strike on Saturday after Wangchuk was taken to hospital.
