Protest will not end: CJP founder pledges to go on hunger strike after Wangchuk shifted to hospital

New Delhi: Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Saturday alleged that Delhi Police “beat” him and dragged him on the road while he was trying to reach Jantar Mantar, after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was shifted to a hospital from the protest site. Dipke said the protest would continue and accused the police of forcibly removing Wangchuk from the spot. He said he would go on a hunger strike from today.

Speaking to IANS in Delhi, Abhijeet Dipke alleged, “The protest will continue. It is very shameful. Like thieves and goons, the Delhi Police hid and dragged him (Sonam Wangchuk) away. This is not the Delhi Police; these are RSS goons. They came secretly and, like thieves, covered Sonam Sir with a sheet, hid him, and dragged him away, just like criminals or the mafia kidnap people.”

He further alleged that police personnel prevented him from reaching Jantar Mantar and used force against him.

“Despite that, our protest will continue. The Delhi Police also beat me up and stopped me from reaching Jantar Mantar. I was beaten, dragged on the road, and they said, ‘Let’s see how you go to Jantar Mantar’.”

Dipke also claimed that several legislators and parliamentarians were stopped from entering the protest site.

“There are many MLAs and MPs here who have also been stopped at the gate and are not being allowed inside,” he said.

Dipke said: “I am starting my fast from today. Our march on the 20th of July will also happen, and my fast will continue. These people think that by taking Sonam Sir inside and picking him up from here, they can end the protest; the protest will not end…”

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for 20 days at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, was shifted to a hospital early on Saturday after his health deteriorated. The move was carried out in compliance with directions of the Delhi High Court and on the advice of medical experts.

Police personnel reached the protest site in the morning and shifted Wangchuk to the hospital amid sloganeering and protests by CJP activists and the public gathered there.

The organisation has been leading the agitation seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.

Meanwhile, speaking on the matter, Samajwadi Party MP, Pushpendra Saroj said, “It is very unfortunate. As an MP and a young person, I had come here earlier as well, and there was a lot of anticipation. A large number of people had gathered in solidarity with someone who has been on a hunger strike for 20 days, but the government is not listening. Today, he was forcibly picked up, covered with bedsheets, the barricades were removed, and he was taken to Safdarjung Hospital…”

The police action came ahead of a scheduled hearing in the Delhi High Court regarding Wangchuk’s health. Earlier this week, the court directed authorities to conduct daily clinical health assessments of the activist, observing that “the life of any citizen is precious” and asking the Centre to ensure necessary medical intervention to protect his life.

The protesters have also announced a march to Parliament on July 20, the opening day of the Monsoon Session, and have appealed to political parties to join the demonstration being held to press their demand for the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak.

IANS