Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, has also strongly criticized the Modi government over the removal of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar, accusing it of using force to suppress peaceful protests and silence voices raising concerns about India's education system.
Gandhi took to X yesterday to denounce the police for taking Wangchuk to the hospital for a hunger strike that had been on since June 28. The activist was protesting in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led campaign over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and deaths of students linked to the controversy.
Gandhi, in his letter, said that the government’s response was indicative of a broader pattern of suppressing democratic dissent.
"The core tenets of the Modi government are Asatya (lies) and Hinsa (violence). Paper leaks, rising cost of education, and student suicides are critical issues for India’s future. No amount of force can deter India’s students, and those of us who love and believe in them, from raising these issues," the Congress leader wrote.
Rahul Gandhi Connects Wangchuk Protest With Student Concerns
Rahul Gandhi said Wangchuk’s hunger strike was not just an individual protest but also reflected a growing frustration among students across the country over repeated examination paper leaks, increasing education costs and growing concerns for student welfare.
Gandhi said that these issues deserve conversation, not police action. He said that democratic protests should be respected and that the voices of students and activists cannot be silenced through force.
The Congress leader's remarks came a day after he participated in a large protest in Dehradun where he joined students, youth organisations and Congress workers in demanding accountability over alleged examination paper leaks and irregularities in recruitment processes.
Gandhi accused the Centre of failing to safeguard young Indians’ aspirations at the Dehradun protest. He said repeated paper leaks had shattered lakhs of students preparing for competitive examinations and called for greater transparency and accountability in the education system.
He also said the Congress would keep raising issues of unemployment, affordable education and fair recruitment opportunities all across the country.
The core tenets of the Modi government are Asatya and Hinsa.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 18, 2026
The removal of Sonam Wangchuk ji from Jantar Mantar while he was on a non-violent hunger strike is wrong.
Paper leaks, the rising cost of education, and student suicides are critical issues for India’s future.
No…
Wangchuk Shifted To Hospital
Sonam Wangchuk had been observing an indefinite fast at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for 21 days before Delhi Police removed him from the protest site early Saturday morning.
Police moved the climate activist to Safdarjung Hospital and said it was following directions from Delhi High Court and expert medical advice after his health deteriorated during the prolonged hunger strike.
Delhi Police said repeated announcements were made to the protesters that the action was being taken in accordance with court orders and medical advice to the district police. While protesters were trying to obstruct the procedure, the police took maximum restraint while transferring Wangchuk to the hospital safely, they added.
The police also told protesters to leave peacefully at the protest site.
Political Reactions Intensify
The incident has ignited a political fight and opposition parties are upset about the timing and manner of Wangchuk’s removal.
In a similar vein, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh claimed that the government acted because it feared Wangchuk's proposed Parliament march scheduled for July 20, as the activist's movement had gained nationwide support. AAP also claimed that students in Jantar Mantar were lathi-charged by police during police action.
Meanwhile, Abhijeet Dipke, a founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, said he was detained by Delhi Police during the operation and declared that he would begin an indefinite hunger strike in protest.
But Delhi Police have maintained that the move to take Wangchuk to the hospital was to protect his health and was carried out under judicial direction. Protest organisers have also said the march to parliament on July 20 will take place as scheduled, with student welfare, exam reforms and the right to peaceful protest still at the heart of the ongoing political debate.
