Allow the Youth to Be Heard’: Sonam Wangchuk Continues Fast After Protest Crackdown

20 july 2026

Report by Swati

New Delhi

Sonam Wangchuk Vows to Continue Fast Amid Crackdown on Protesters

In a handwritten statement issued from Safdarjung Hospital, social reformer Sonam Wangchuk declared that he would continue his fast on Day 23, expressing solidarity with the protesters who were allegedly subjected to police action during the Parliament March.

Wangchuk wrote that witnessing the treatment meted out to peaceful protesters had strengthened his resolve to continue the hunger strike until the youth leaders were allowed to meet parliamentarians or until he himself was permitted to join them.

“Seeing the brutality with which peacefully protesting youth are being dealt with, I have decided to continue my fast until the youth leaders are allowed to meet the parliamentarians, or I am allowed to meet them here at Safdarjung Hospital,” he wrote.

He added that he was deeply inspired by the restraint shown by the young protesters despite what he described as provocation, and appealed to the Government and Delhi Police to resolve the situation through dialogue rather than confrontation.

Wangchuk urged the authorities to allow the students and youth representatives to present their grievances before Members of Parliament, saying that such engagement would provide a democratic and peaceful resolution to the issue.

Concluding his message, Wangchuk expressed hope that the authorities would display the same patience, tolerance, and commitment to peaceful dialogue in the days ahead as they had shown during the day’s developments.