19 July,2026 12:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
MVA attacks Centre over Delhi Police action against Sonam Wangchuk (File pic)
Hours after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly taken to the hospital by the Delhi Police, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray and other opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders on Saturday criticised the Centre over its "irresponsible" and "shameful" handling of the activist's agitation.
As per PTI, Maharashtra opposition leaders said that the action amounted to suppression of democratic dissent. Wangchuk had been on an indefinite hunger strike in Delhi since June 28 in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the alleged deaths of students linked to the controversy.
Delhi Police on Saturday shifted Wangchuk to Safdarjung Hospital from the Jantar Mantar protest site after his health deteriorated on the 21st day of his indefinite hunger strike, citing medical advice and directions of the Delhi High Court, as per PTI.
MVA allies Congress, NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) slammed the Union government over the action.
Speaking to the media in Baramati, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar asserted that while the government moved to hospitalise Wangchuk as the situation became "uncontrollable", the protest would continue regardless of the action against the activist.
Pawar said, "The Centre didn't handle the situation carefully, and it impacted the future of several students. The government remained a bystander as other political parties came to support him (Wangchuk). Leaders from Congress, NCP (SP), including Supriya Sule and many others, paid a visit there (Jantar Mantar) and raised a common demand," as cited by PTI.
Pawar said the demand was genuine and was for the betterment of the students, but none of the leaders from the government, despite being in Delhi, visited the protest site.
"It means that the government is irresponsible. This issue will not end here, as the Parliament session is scheduled to begin; it will be discussed there too," he said, adding that the protest will continue despite action against Wangchuk.
Talking to reporters in Nagpur ahead of his party's 'Ram Raksha' programme, Uddhav Thackeray said the government does not value the lives of citizens and urged the Centre to talk to the protesting youth.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said, "It is shameful how Wangchuk was removed from Jantar Mantar. Wangchuk is on the verge of sacrificing his life, and several youth are on hunger strike, but the BJP government does not care about the lives of citizens or the youth," as per PTI.
The government, which cannot conduct exams like NEET properly, must say how many youths have to sacrifice their lives before Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, the former Maharashtra chief minister added.
On the police citing medical advice and directions of the Delhi High Court to remove Wangchuk, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said police should show these orders.
Along with other leaders, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray from Worli while taking it to social media platform X, wrote,, "What a shame! The world watches democracy in India being broken by force, shamelessly."
"Even peaceful protests for students against an incompetent minister are not tolerated anymore," the MLA added.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said on X, "If even movements started through democratic means are not acceptable to the government, then it is clear that what has begun in this country is not democracy, but dictatorship."
Instead of taking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, forcibly removing Wangchuk from the protest site and admitting him to the hospital, and using police force against the protesters is unbecoming of democracy, he added.
(With inputs from PTI)
