Delhi Protest: Student on Ventilator as Political Leaders Visit Hospital

A 21-year-old Delhi University student remained on ventilator support in critical condition on Tuesday, a day after she was injured during police action at the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) march to Parliament, as opposition leaders and the Union health minister converged on the hospital and the protest movement was hit by an internal controversy.

The student, identified as Sakshi, was in the intensive care unit at Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital. According to family members and fellow protesters, she suffered asphyxia in a crowd crush that broke out after tear gas shells were fired on Monday and demonstrators began running, sustaining injuries to her face, chest and neck. The hospital's director declined to comment on her condition.

An eyewitness who was with her, a 23-year-old student, said a sudden police push triggered the crush, in which Sakshi fell and was pulled out unconscious after being buried under several people. Her cousin was also injured. Her mother waited outside the ICU in tears as students gathered for updates.

Monday's march part of the CJP's campaign demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance examination saw thousands head towards Parliament before police used tear gas and baton charges near Jantar Mantar. Officials and organisers say more than 120 people, including some police personnel, were injured.

Amid the fallout, the CJP led by its founder Abhijeet Dipke apologised for and condemned the conduct of one of its spokespersons, Vijeta Dahiya, after a video surfaced appearing to show him eating at a fast-food outlet while protesters faced the police crackdown. Describing his actions as deeply insensitive and inconsistent with the movement's values, the party removed him from the post.

A stream of political leaders visited RML through the day. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra met the injured and Sakshi's mother, and, speaking in Parliament, accused the government of suppressing students' voices while renewing their demand for Pradhan's resignation. Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also visited, saying he had met students injured in what he described as the government's “brutality” and pledging the party's assistance. Congress leader Deepender Singh Hooda was among others who came.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda separately visited RML, where he interacted with the injured, reviewed the treatment being provided and held a meeting with doctors to assess the patients' condition and the medical care on offer.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) condemned the reported use of force against resident doctors and medical students during the protests. The unrest has unfolded alongside a hunger strike by activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose possible transfer to a private hospital was being heard by the Delhi High Court.