Gitanjali Angmo, wife of activist Sonam Wangchuk, on Sunday sought urgent hearing before the Delhi High Court to shift the fasting activist from Safdarjung Hospital to a private hospital of their choice.
Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike for three weeks at Jantar Mantar, was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on Saturday morning.
Angmo said she has lost faith in Safdarjung Hospital and flagged authenticity of medical test reports conducted on Wangchuk.
“I have lost faith in Safdarjung Government Hospital. The hospital told us @Wangchuk66
’s potassium had dropped to 2.9, describing it as alarming and life-threatening. Yet, in its public health bulletin, it conveniently omitted the actual number, referring only to “decreasing potassium levels.” An independent laboratory test reported 3.5, well within the normal range,” she said in a social media post.
I have lost faith in Safdarjung Government Hospital.
The hospital told us @Wangchuk66’s potassium had dropped to 2.9, describing it as alarming and life-threatening. Yet, in its public health bulletin, it conveniently omitted the actual number, referring only to “decreasing…
Officials at the Safdarjung Hospital said Wangchuk remains “conscious and clinically stable”, but is showing signs of dehydration and continues to refuse oral and intravenous fluid therapy despite repeated counselling.
Delhi: Activist Sonam Wangchuk’s health update as on 8.30 AM | Sonam Wangchuk is being given the required medical intervention at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital. His vital parameters are stable at present; however, his blood parameters remain marginally altered, and considering the… pic.twitter.com/cgXzoToPbJ
Meanwhile, Angmo claimed that the hospital has refused to discharge Wangchuk or allow the family to shift him to a private hospital of their choice.
“With around 30 police personnel stationed on our floor and well over 100 across the hospital, our movement is severely restricted. It is not medical care. It is illegal detention,” she said, adding, “If anything happens to Sonam, the hospital authorities and the government must bear full responsibility”.
She said she has sought an urgent heading and “moved the High Court” seeking permission to shift the activist to a private hospital “before his health deteriorates further”.
On Saturday, Angmo said that nothing should be given to her husband orally or intravenously without her consent. She said that doctors who have been attending to Wangchuk through the period of his fast were being denied access to him.
Story continues below this ad
In a message shared by Angmo, Sonam Wangchuk has reiterated his support for the July 20 march, calling it “India’s 2nd Freedom Movement”. “March to the Parliament. Please make it a big success. Sent through Gitanjali from my illegal detention at Safdarjung,” the activist’s social media message read.
Majid Alam is a Senior Copy Editor at Indianexpress.com. With over seven years of experience in journalism, he has worked across leading newsrooms, managing online news desk operations, heading shifts, and handling breaking news in fast-paced environments.
While his primary experience has been on the news desk, his interests extend to field reporting and in-depth storytelling. He has reported stories on government policy, health, climate, and migration. He has previously worked with Hindustan Times, ABP LIVE, and News18.
Majid holds a Master's degree in Convergent Journalism from the AJK Mass Communication Research Centre at Jamia Millia Islamia. He was also selected for an international mobility programme to study International Affairs at Sciences Po, Paris. He is part of the OCEANS Network, the alumni network of Erasmus+ exchange scholars, where he serves as the National Representative for India. ... Read More