‘Govt afraid of Sonam Wangchuk’s march’: Wife Angmo says Centre’s health concerns are ‘charade’

Soon after the Delhi High Court rejected climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s plea to be transferred from Safdarjung Hospital to a private facility, her husband Dr. Gitanjali J Angmo alleged that the Centre’s justification for transferring her to the government hospital was a “funny trick” and alleged that the move was aimed at thwarting the proposed march rather than addressing any medical emergency.

Angmo claimed that the government’s stated concern for Wangchuk’s health was merely an excuse. “This whole narrative about health concerns is nothing but a charade. They were afraid that if Sonam went on her march, hundreds of thousands of people would join her, not just in Delhi but across the country, and they were trying to prevent it,” he said.

These remarks came ahead of the proposed “Chalo Sansad” march to Parliament on July 20, which Wangchuk described as India’s “second freedom movement”. In a message shared through his wife Angmo, the march was planned to be held from VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, where he was under police guard.

Also read: Delhi HC rejects activist Sonam Wangchuk’s plea to be transferred from Safdarjung hospital

The climate activist called for citizens to participate in large numbers, citing the following slogan: “Aazaadi ka doosra andolan, bhay mukt Bharat, anyay mukt Bharat” (India’s second freedom movement – an India free from fear and injustice). He linked the campaign to issues such as the leak of examination papers and what he called “illegal detention” at the hospital, and urged his supporters to “please make this a huge success”.

Speaking to reporters after the court process, Angmo said that Wangchuk’s health did not deteriorate before he was taken from the protest area. Recalling the health reports from the previous evening, the woman said that her potassium level was 4.3 and all other health parameters were within the normal range. “They said they brought him in because they were deeply concerned about his deteriorating health. But these claims are false. When you look at the reports from the previous evening, everything was absolutely normal.”

Questioning the way Wangchuk was transferred to Safdarjung Hospital, Angmo claimed that instead of informing the family about any medical concerns, plainclothes police personnel forcibly took him away on a stretcher.

“If you were really worried about his health, you could have just done a medical examination and informed the family that a certain parameter required hospitalization. That’s how things should be handled in a democracy,” he said.

He also reiterated the family’s demand that Wangchuk be shifted to a private hospital of their choice, citing greater trust in doctors chosen by the family. Citing his most recent medical measurements, Angmo claimed that Wangchuk’s blood pressure, which he said usually remained around 110/70, had risen to 125/85 due to the environment in the hospital. “We want to take them to doctors of our own choosing, with whom we feel comfortable,” he said.