Akhil Gogoi Calls for Sonam Wangchuk’s Release and Minister Pradhan’s Resignation

On Saturday, Akhil Gogoi – the Raijor Dal chief and Assam MLA – raised his voice against what he called a "forcible" hospitalisation of climate‑activist Sonam Wangchuk. Gogoi argued that taking a man on a hunger strike to a hospital against his will squarely breaches both fundamental and constitutional rights.

"As a representative of the people of Assam and the North‑East, I demand Sonam Wangchuk be released immediately," Gogoi told ANI, adding that the protest is about more than a single exam. "He is fighting for our future, for the future of all generations, and we must stand together. The Education Minister must step down."

The Delhi police, acting on a complaint, moved Wangchuk from the Jantar Mantar camp to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday morning. The activist has been on a fast‑until‑death strike, pressing for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of a nationwide exam‑paper leak, including the recent NEET controversy.

While Wangchuk’s fellow protestors – especially the Cockroach Janata Party – continue to rally at Jantar Mantar and have announced a march to Parliament for the opening day of the Monsoon Session, they have yet to obtain clearance from the authorities. The police have already imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the BNSS (earlier Section 144) around the Parliament precinct, making any large gathering highly unlikely to be approved. Opposition figures from AAP, Congress, TMC and Samajwadi Party have all condemned the police action, calling it an intimidation of dissent.