Sonam Wangchuk's Detention: Wife Claims Government Feared His Influence in Ladakh Statehood Talks

New Delhi:

Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, stated on Wednesday that her husband was detained following the violent protests in Ladakh because the government wanted to exclude him from statehood negotiations with Kargil and Leh organizations, considering him a "tough nut to crack."

The Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) are the primary organizations engaged in talks with the Centre regarding statehood and implementation of the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh.

After filing an amended petition in the Supreme Court challenging Wangchuk's detention under the National Security Act (NSA), Angmo clarified to reporters that the climate activist was never a member of either the LAB or KDA. However, both bodies made a "unilateral decision" in July to include him as a member.

Wangchuk was detained under the stringent NSA on September 26, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh resulted in four deaths and 90 injuries. The government accused him of inciting the violence.

The NSA grants the Centre and states authority to detain individuals to prevent actions deemed "prejudicial to the defense of India." Detention can last up to 12 months, though it may be revoked earlier.

According to Angmo, the government "fears" that Wangchuk, a Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, would be an uncompromising voice who "would stick to what is best for Ladakh."

"The government knows that if he is in the picture, the negotiations will be tougher," she remarked.

She alleged that his detention would allow the government to "come up with suboptimal solutions" while avoiding intense negotiations.

Angmo, an educationist herself, stated that the government is aware her husband won't "go back with lollipops." She added that the Centre created this "smokescreen and drama" to avoid the embarrassment of explaining why they wouldn't allow him to attend meetings.

After reviewing the detention order outlining reasons for Wangchuk's confinement in Jodhpur prison, Angmo claimed statements attributed to him regarding the September 24 arson "have been either misquoted or taken out of context," noting that various media outlets have fact-checked and found these claims false.

She pointed out that all approximately ten videos referenced in the detention order are either 14-15 months old or from September 10 or after the violence occurred.

"There is no video which, as they are claiming, is from the 'anshan' ground that allegedly led to the violence," she emphasized.

Regarding alleged instigating statements mentioned in the detention order, Angmo explained that references to Nepal and Bangladesh occurred three to four months earlier, and Wangchuk was quoting someone else.

"So, there are two separate incidents: Nepal, Bangladesh; somebody else quoted how revolution is coming there. Sonam was quoting that person and saying that in our case, it will be through peaceful protest.

"The very videos they have referenced, if you watch for just one more minute, you'll hear him saying 'we will not do it that way.' Someone mentioned Nepal and Bangladesh, but Wangchuk explicitly stated we would not follow that approach and would instead conduct peaceful protests," Angmo clarified.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court acknowledged Angmo's amended plea challenging the climate activist's detention and requested responses from the Centre and Union Territory of Ladakh within 10 days.

A bench consisting of Justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and UT of Ladakh, to file a response to the amended plea. The case is scheduled for hearing on November 24.