New Delhi | Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a 21-day hunger strike, is showing signs of dehydration and urgently requires fluid and electrolyte therapy to prevent potentially serious complications, even as he and his family declined the recommended treatment despite repeated counselling, Safdarjung Hospital authorities said on Saturday.
Wangchuk remains conscious and haemodynamically stable, with his pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation currently within normal limits, the hospital said in a statement issued around 9 pm.
However, it said his prolonged fast has led to clinical signs of dehydration, making immediate oral or intravenous fluid and electrolyte therapy medically necessary.
Wangchuk was taken forcibly to Safdarjung Hospital by the Delhi Police on the 21st day of his hunger strike. He has been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the reported deaths of students linked to the controversy.
An independent expert from AIIMS, Delhi, examined Wangchuk and concurred with the treating team's assessment that urgent 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.
"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," the hospital said.
The hospital said Wangchuk has refused intravenous fluids, oral rehydration solution and all medications despite repeated counselling by the treating team and an independent AIIMS expert, while his family is yet to provide consent for the recommended medical intervention.
"His pulse, blood pressure and oxygen saturation are currently within normal limits. However, he 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 statement said.
It added that Wangchuk continues to remain under close medical observation.
"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 and preventing avoidable complications," the statement said.
"The patient continues to be under close medical observation. 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 and preventing avoidable complications," it stated.
Wangchuk and the three activists from AISA have been on an indefinite hunger strike since June 28 in support of the CJP-led protest demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in NEET and deaths of students linked to the controversy.
Soon after the police action, CJP founder Abhijit Dipke alleged that the protesters were subjected to a police crackdown.
New Delhi | Actor Sonakshi Sinha, singer Vishal Dadlani and actor Parvathy Thiruvothu have expressed their disappointment over the way educationist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital from the protest spot where he has been on an indefinite hunger strike.
Wangchuk was taken from the Jantar Mantar protest spot to Safdarjung Hospital in the early hours on Saturday. The activist has been on a hunger strike at Delhi's Jantar Mantar after joining the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) protest demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
In an Instagram video, Sinha said, "The thing that happened with Sonam sir today wasn’t right. I am glad that he’s okay and that his wife is with him. He’s strong, he’s alert. In the last few days, I have been seeing him and the thousands standing with him.”
The actor praised students for standing with Wangchuk and continuing with their non-violent protests.
"We all know the country’s strength is in its youth. Now, I feel like that’s true after looking at them. Even after all the discomfort, disappointment and difficulties, the way you have held on to your beliefs, hats off to you."
She urged those marching to the Parliament on July 20, continue to protest peacefully.
"Peace, unity and respect. Every citizen has a right to raise their voice, to question, and when they do it without violence or hatred, just with hope, their voice becomes stronger.”
Dadlani shared a video on his Instagram handle on Saturday and said he is speechless. Have you ever seen such a thing? Sonam ji was forcibly taken away. These people are ruining this country, this is... It breaks my heart, he is heard saying in the video.
People of my country, when will you wake up? If you don't wake up now, then when will you? I don't know what to say. I don't know what to think. I just wish I was there to help him somehow. He is getting tired of my anger right now, he added.
Thiruvothu called the act an abduction of our rights . Abduction of our voices. When the protectors become the abusers , we better remind them that we will never let OUR India be run by crooks and liars. Solidarity and support to the brave citizens at Jantar Mantar and across the country, she wrote in an Instagram post.
Actor Hrithik Roshan is the latest from the film industry after Zeenat Aman, Anurag Kashyap, Soni Razdan, Sonkashi Sinha and Abhay Deol to extend support to Wangchuk and protesting students.
In a post on Instagram, Roshan said he agrees with Wangchuk's concern for the students.
Roshan shared a video of Wangchuk on his Instagram story on Friday. It featured the activist speaking about the students and how 20 of them lost their lives after the papers were leaked.
The actor, who essayed the role of mathematician and educator Anand Kumar in the 2019 film Super 30 , said he agrees with Wangchuk.
This sounds true. I learnt about the trauma students go through when I played a teacher in one of my movies, the actor wrote.
