'Such Arrogance Is Not Right': Opposition Reacts After Sonam Wangchuk Shifted To Hospital

Published 18 July 2026 · local

'Such Arrogance Is Not Right': Opposition Reacts After Sonam Wangchuk Shifted To Hospital Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 11:25 IST The protesters have

'Such Arrogance Is Not Right': Opposition Reacts After Sonam Wangchuk Shifted To Hospital Published By, Last Updated: July 18, 2026, 11:25 IST The protesters have announced a march to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session, and have appealed to join the demonstration. Rapid Read Arvind Kejriwal went to Jantar Mantar to support Sonam Wangchuk. (X/@ArvindKejriwal) Several Opposition leaders on Saturday criticised the Centre and Delhi Police after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted from the Jantar Mantar protest site to Safdarjung Hospital on the 21st day of his hunger strike. Follow LIVE Updates Here Reacting to the development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the government should have engaged in dialogue with Wangchuk instead of removing him from the protest site. In a post on X, Kejriwal said, “Such arrogance is not right. Instead of forcibly lifting them up, the Modi government should have talked to Sonam Wangchuk." इतना अहंकार ठीक नहीं है।उन्हें जबरन उठाने की बजाय, मोदी सरकार को सोनम वांगचुक से बात करनी चाहिए थी। कॉकरोच आंदोलन को कुचलने की बजाय, देश की शिक्षा और परीक्षा व्यवस्था सुधारो सोनम वांगचुक के साथ ज़बरदस्ती मोदी सरकार की हार है। — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 18, 2026 He further criticised the government’s handling of the protest, saying, “Instead of crushing the cockroach movement, reform the country’s education and examination system. The Modi government’s defeat is in forcibly dealing with Sonam Wangchuk." Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the Centre over the removal of Wangchuk from his hunger strike site at Jantar Mantar and his subsequent shifting to a hospital.

In a post on X, Yadav called the action “utterly reprehensible" and demanded that the identities of those who allegedly arrived in plain clothes to carry out the removal be made public. He also demanded that Wangchuk’s medical treatment be conducted under “judicial oversight", saying his life was valuable for humanity, environmental protection, democratic values, science and innovation. Yadav alleged that the incident had drawn concern across the country and the world and accused the BJP government of damaging India’s democratic image. He further claimed that the BJP’s approach was based on “conflict" rather than dialogue and said the government was acting out of “arrogance". Yadav added that the new generation could bring about an ideological change through “digital unity". 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 Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav targeted the government over the police action, alleging that suppressing peaceful voices hurts democratic institutions. In a post on X, she said, “When peaceful voices are suppressed, the Constitution and democracy are also wounded. Suppressing the voices of people like Sonam Wangchuk is to suppress the soul of the nation." बीजेपी वाले देश के लिए सफेद चादर का कफ़न लेकर आए हैं।जब शांतिपूर्ण आवाज़ों को दबाया जाता है, तो संविधान और लोकतंत्र भी आहत होते हैं।