New Delhi: The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Saturday called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation, intensifying its protest hours after police removed activist Sonam Wangchuk from Jantar Mantar, where he had been on an indefinite hunger strike.
The party declared that supporters of the youth movement would go ahead with the Parliament march scheduled for July 20. Abhijeet Dipke, the CJP founder who began an indefinite hunger strike following Wangchuk's detention, urged supporters to join the march.
"Until now, I was demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, but after this despicable act, we will now demand the resignation of Narendra Modi," Dipke said while addressing supporters at Jantar Mantar. He was seen breaking into tears during the protest.
Meanwhile, Delhi Police said doctors examining Wangchuk found him weak and showing signs of dehydration due to prolonged fasting. He has been kept under observation.
Further medical tests are being conducted, and his health is being continuously monitored under expert supervision, police said in a statement.
According to the police, Wangchuk was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday for medical examination and further treatment after doctors, during a routine check-up mandated by the Delhi High Court, advised hospitalisation in view of his deteriorating health.
Doctors arrived in the morning to conduct Wangchuk's scheduled daily medical examination, as directed by the High Court. However, the exercise was allegedly obstructed by some protesters, leading to a brief commotion, the statement said.
Considering Wangchuk's delicate health condition, he was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on medical advice for further examination and intervention, if required, it added.
Doctors at the hospital found that Wangchuk was weak and showing signs of dehydration. Additional medical tests are underway, and his condition is being closely monitored, according to the statement.
However, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka alleged that Wangchuk was "manhandled and forcefully removed" by Delhi Police, and claimed that some protesters were also assaulted during the operation.
"We are at Jantar Mantar, where some time ago Sonam Wangchuk was manhandled and forcefully removed. In the morning, people take a 10-15 minute break to freshen up. Delhi Police committed this cowardly act at that time. Abhijeet Dipke has started a hunger strike. We will not move from here. On July 20, join us for the march to Parliament. This is a fight to save the country. We should not go back," Ranka said.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, said he should not be administered any medical treatment without her consent and that of their doctors.
The CJP also shared a video recorded on Friday in which government doctors were seen asking Wangchuk whether he wished to be hospitalised.
In the video, Wangchuk is heard saying, "This is not a disease or a disorder; this is a self-chosen path," while Dr Satish Lamba says the court had only directed that Wangchuk be medically monitored and not hospitalised.
Despite Wangchuk's hospitalisation, the protest continued at Jantar Mantar, with All India Students' Association (AISA) activists Neha, Aameen and Manish continuing their indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the movement.
(With PTI inputs)