In 2024, Sonam Wangchuk consumed only water and salt and slept outdoors at 11,500 feet in sub-freezing temperatures in Ladakh for 21 days, demanding legal rights for his region to protect its resources.

In 2026, the activist and educator lay under a tarpaulin tent at Jantar Mantar in the humid July heat of Delhi for 21 days, demanding education reforms in the wake of the NEET paper leak controversy.

From celebrated innovator and educationist to the most prominent face of Ladakh's political and environmental movement, and now to the face of a Gen Z movement for education reforms - Wangchuk's journey reflects a shift from grassroots innovation to national activism.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot has slammed the government for removing activist Sonam Wangchuk from Delhi's Jantar Mantar protest site, calling it a "completely flawed policy by the government".

"Sonam Wangchuk has been fasting for nearly 20 days, giving up food to strike for a critical issue, the future of our youth, and the resignation of the Education Minister. Yet, the government chose not to engage in any dialogue, initiate a discussion, or even acknowledge the matter," he said.

Pilot added, "Now, seeing the growing national impact and mounting public pressure, they are forcibly shifting him to a hospital, solely to evade accountability. It would have been far better if the government had initiated a dialogue and met their demands. Forcibly removing him and shifting him to the hospital clearly reveals that the government is under immense pressure. Discontent is peaking, and taking him to the hospital by force will only fuel public outrage instead of suppressing it."

After removing activist Sonam Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar protest site, the Delhi Police has appealed to the protesters to vacate the site "peacefull at the earliest". 

Early on Saturday morning, Delhi Police officials shifted Sonam Wangchuk to a Delhi hospital amid portest and slaganeering by the protesters. 

In a statement after the action, Delhi Police said that their action was in accordance with the Delhi High Court order and due to Wangchuk's failing health. 

"Sonam Wangchuk has been shifted to the hospital for essential medical care," Police statement said.

As the Delhi Police shifted activist Sonam Wangchuk to the Safdarjung Hospital, his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, said that no medical treatment should be administered to the activist without her consent.

"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," she wrote in a post on X.

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

Sources have accessed activist Sonam Wangchuk's medical records dated July 13 - when doctors wanted him to shift to the hospital, but the activist had refused.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 20 days at Delhi's Jantar Mantar - demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak, was removed from the site today by the Delhi Police on medical grounds.

As Wangchuk was sitting with the protesters at Jantar Mantar early in the morning, the Delhi police arrived at the site in civilian clothes - some wearing a blue shirt and others wearing a white shirt. The cops deployed heavy security, put up curtains, and before anyone could anticipate what was happening, they took him away. According to officials, the 59-year-old Wangchuk was taken to the hospital "peacefully", despite a brief obstruction amid protests and sloganeering by the Cockroach Janata Party activists who have been spearheading the demonstration. READ MORE

Activist Sonam Wangchuk has been taken to the Safdarjung Hospital, where he has been admitted to the emergency ward. Sources told news agency ANI that Wangchuk is conscious and his vitals are stable.

"While complying with the orders of Hon'ble High Court the protesters tried to create obstruction, in which slight commotion ensued. Police, however,  exercised maximum restrain and undertook the exercise safely. We request the protesters at Jantar Mantar to peacefully vacate the place at the earliest," Delhi Police said.

Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike for 20 days at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, has been removed from the protest site and taken to the hospital.

Police landed at the protest site early on Saturday morning and shifted Wangchuk to hospital amid protests and sloganeering by the Cockroach Janata Party activists who have been spearheading the protest against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.