Guwahati: Activist Sonam Wangchuk has warned that he may launch a hunger strike or undertake a foot march if political leaders and activists detained by Delhi Police are not released by Sunday.
Several political leaders, activists and protesters, including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee and Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, were detained on Saturday while attempting to march towards Jantar Mantar to protest alleged irregularities in the functioning of the Election Commission.
In a video message shared on his social media accounts, Wangchuk described the situation in the country as an “undeclared emergency”.
“Yesterday, when I posted a message appealing for unity and peace during today’s protest, I never imagined that the world’s largest democracy would be under an undeclared emergency,” he said.
Wangchuk, who had expressed support for the protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, could not attend the demonstration in person. He said he had been encouraged by the large number of leaders participating in the movement but was concerned after learning that they had been detained.
The activist expressed hope that the detained leaders would be released soon. However, he warned that he would be compelled to consider an anshan (hunger strike) or a padyatra (foot march) if they remained in custody beyond Sunday.
Wangchuk’s warning came amid growing protests demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the electoral process and calling for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner.