India, July 20 -- Sonam Wangchuk has been on an indefinite hunger strike at Jantar Mantar since June 28, has lost between 8 and 9 kilograms in body weight, his blood pressure and blood sugar have both fallen, and doctors monitoring him around the clock describe muscle wasting and continuing pain.

He remains conscious and is refusing to end his protest despite appeals by civil society leaders who met him on July 15, and calls by several political leaders, including Dalit Member of Parliament 'Ravan' Chandrashekhar Azad, and says he will join a march to Parliament planned for July 20.

The Delhi High Court is hearing a petition asking it to order his hospitalisation and, if necessary, force-feeding, but the Union government has yet to fil...