NEW DELHI: “Let his life be saved,” former Chief Justice of India Justice (retd.) KG Balakrishnan remarked on climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was “forcibly” removed from Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and taken to a hospital by police on Saturday after his condition deteriorated during a hunger strike.“I’ve learnt that he (Wangchuk) has been taken to the hospital.. Let his life be saved,” the ex-CJI told PTI on the sidelines of an event in Delhi.Justice (retd.) Balakrishnan’s remarks came amid criticism from Wangchuk’s supporters and others over the government’s action in removing the educator-activist from the protest site.The activist had begun the fast on June 28.Wangchuk and three activists from the students’ outfit AISA have been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar — the capital’s designated protest site — in support of a protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical movement, over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and reported student deaths linked to the controversy.Police earlier in the day stated that he was hospitalised in accordance with the Delhi high court‘s directions after his health deteriorated and that he was receiving the required medical care. He has been admitted to Safdarjung Hospital.According to reports, Wangchuk is under close medical observation, with doctors counselling his family to allow treatment to begin without further delay.The CJP has called for a march to Parliament on July 20, coinciding with the opening of Parliament’s Monsoon session. Both the group and Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo, have asserted that the march will be held as planned.Angmo, who questioned the government’s move to shift her husband, announced that she would participate in the march in place of the activist if required.Meanwhile, Justice (retd.) Balakrishnan, also a former chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), also fielded questions related to India’s constitutional values, and the role of youth in a democracy.Asked if there were challenges to constitutional values today, the ex-CJI responded in the negative and said, “The Constitution is always the protector of the people of this country, of our fundamental rights.”He also urged that citizens should have proper education and be alive to the problems in the society, and emphasised the positive role of the youth in the democracy.
