As climate activist Sonam Wangchuk reportedly continues his indefinite hunger strike, solidarity protests have gathered momentum across India, with many people coming together to organise peaceful demonstrations, candlelight vigils and symbolic 24-hour hunger strikes in support of his movement.
Peaceful protests have been held in Nagpur, Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Kochi, Thrissur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata, reflecting growing public support for Wangchuk's demands.
Similar gatherings are also expected to take place in cities including Chennai in the coming days, indicating that the movement continues to gain momentum.
In Nagpur, citizens assembled at Samvidhan Square for a peaceful demonstration, expressing solidarity with Wangchuk and urging more people to support the movement.
Similar protests were held in Mumbai and Pune, where participants gathered to show their support for Wangchuk's demands and raise awareness about the ongoing movement.
Raipur witnessed students and youth organisations staging demonstrations in support of the hunger strike, with participants highlighting environmental protection, democratic rights and the need for greater public participation in policymaking.
In Bengaluru and Hyderabad, citizens organised peaceful protests and candlelight vigils, while several participants also observed symbolic 24-hour hunger strikes as a mark of solidarity.
In Kerala, solidarity protests were held in Kochi and Thrissur. In Kochi, people from multiple backgrounds gathered at the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Foundation in Kacheripady for a peaceful protest in support of Wangchuk's ongoing hunger strike.
The gathering provided participants with a space to express their thoughts and voice their solidarity with Wangchuk and the movement unfolding at Jantar Mantar.
Nisha Chandran, one of the organisers of the Kochi gathering, said, "When Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly removed from Jantar Mantar, we started discussing how we could also show our solidarity. This is a peaceful gathering in support of the students and for our nation. We are not aligned with any political party; we are simply standing in solidarity with the events taking place."
The event was attended by the director Jeo Baby and the content creator Aleena Sabu, who declared their support for the movement.
In Thrissur, students and activists also assembled in solidarity with Wangchuk through a peaceful demonstration.
Students at Jadavpur University in Kolkata also organised a campus protest, adding to the growing nationwide mobilisation through rallies and awareness campaigns.
The demonstrations came amid heightened tensions in the national capital. According to videos circulating on social media and multiple media reports from the protest site, police reportedly used lathis to disperse sections of the crowd during the protest at Jantar Mantar, with several protesters alleging excessive use of force.
Ground reports also stated that internet services were suspended or jammed in parts of the area, drawing widespread criticism from the general public, who argued that the restrictions hindered communication and the exercise of the right to peaceful assembly.
Although the demonstrations took different forms ranging from public gatherings and rallies to candlelight vigils and symbolic fasts, they all share the common purpose of expressing solidarity with Wangchuk and the ongoing protest at Jantar Mantar.
Organised independently by local groups, students and concerned citizens rather than by a single nationwide body, the demonstrations highlight how people from across the country have come together in support of the movement while calling for dialogue and accountability.
