Today on 26 September, Leh police arrested environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk. The action took place on September 24 after violent clashes in Leh, in which four people died and more than 80 were injured. The central government blamed Wangchuk, alleging that his provocative statements made the peaceful movement violent. Wangchuk, who once received fame as an innovative engineer inspired by Rancho (Funsuk Bangdu) of ‘3 Idiots’, is now accused of ‘political upheaval’. He is accused that his hunger strike and speeches thrown Ladakh into the fire. It is evident that after this incident his personality has become suspicious. The question arises, are they guilty? It may be that they are not guilty of violence in Ladakh, but they will have to answer the things that are going against them.
59 -year -old Wangchuk is an engineer and environmental activist from Ladakh, who founded SECMOL (Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh) in 1988. This institution focuses on rural education reform, which runs with solar energy and is free from fossil fuel. In view of his social work done in 2018, he received the Ramon Magsaysay Award, which is considered to be the Nobel Prize of Asia.
This movement was peaceful from the beginning. Wangchuk and his supporters traveled to Delhi on foot which was done in a very peaceful manner. But on 24 September, violence erupted under the leadership of youth (Jane Z). BJP office was burnt, CRPF vehicles were set in fire and 4 people were killed in police firing. Curfew was imposed in Leh and more than 50 arrests were made. Wangchuk condemned the violence, but the Center believes that the crowd became violent by his provocative statements. On 25 September, MHA canceled the FCRA license of his organization SECMOL. He was arrested under NSA on 26 September. Since then, the national discussion on the atmosphere of Ladakh has started. #Releasesonamwangchuk and #Sonamwangchuktraitor on X is also trending.
1-Why is there so much pull about autonomy or statehood?
Sonam Wangchuk used to talk about only the sixth schedule, but now the demand for state status has started. If you see the map of Jammu and Kashmir, you will find that Ladakh is more than three -fourths. And the population is only close to 3 lakhs. In such a situation, when this part of this union territory is getting with enemy countries like China and Pakistan, giving statehood for a few years can prove to be playing with the security of the country. Secondly, this movement is also happening only in Leh. Which is a small part of this huge union territory.
One thing is also worth noting that many times Sonam Wangchuk has made such threats which makes her suspicious. Such videos are going viral in which they talked about rebellion in the army and have talked about the Chinese army to enter. It is a different matter that they must have done all these things only to explain their point to the Government of India, but such things are sensitive to the security of the country.
Along with this, the government had already said that the 6th schedule is out of the table. Therefore, it is not right to give too much emphasis on this.
2- How will unemployment be removed without development?
Wangchuk Ladakhi talks about employment for the youth. But it is possible to give employment to everyone without reaching the corporate. Can it be possible to give government jobs to everyone? The Ladakh is the upper part of the Himalayas, where the average height is 3,000 meters. Glacier melted 30%, rivers are drying up due to climate change. Wangchuk had said during the 21-day fast of March 2024 that environmental crisis is the origin of unemployment. Crops wasted, tourism affected. It is obvious that if people like Wangchuk are stronger, then it is difficult for the outside companies to reach here.
The demand for 6 schedule is for tribal land conservation, so that ecology is not wasted from mining/tourism. You can understand how big Wangchuk is inviting the threat. Lady minerals are present in Ladakh. There are many important mineral reserves from ultra pure silica for semiconductor. Reserve of uranium and thorium are also present.
3- provocative statements and violence provoking
The central government alleges that Wangchuk’s speeches converted peaceful opposition to violence in Ladakh. Wangchuk referred to ‘Arab Spring’ and ‘Jane Z Rebellion of Nepal’, which led the youth to ‘revolution’. During the Lab’s shutdown on 24 September, the youth took to the streets when two strikes reached the hospital. BJP office, Hill Council headquarters, and vehicles were burnt. Police fired lathicharge, tear gas, and firing. Wangchuk condemned the violence, said, I appealed for peace in Hindi and Ladakhi. But the Center said that he ran away from the ambulance, did not try to handle the situation. On X, @Aranganathan72 writes that Wangchuk pushed Ladakh towards Nepali anarchy.
4- Foreign Funding
Wangchuk is the biggest charge of foreign influence. On 25 September, MHA canceled the FCRA license of Secmol, alleging that FCRA 2010 violated the local fund FCRA account in the FCRA account, misuse of funds for non-transcendent activities. The local fund of Rs 54,600 in FY 2020-21 in FCRA account, FY in 2021-22 has up to 3.35 lakhs.
For 4.93 lakh youth awareness programs from Swedish organization Framtidsjorden. 6 crore to 15 crore donations to HIL (Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh), with 6.5 crore transfer to his private firm Sheshyon Innovations. Ashoka Fellowship since 2002.
5-Pakistan trip
Participation in Pakistan Climate Conference in February 2025 suspected. It is alleged that which environment conference was held in Pakistan which is world class. CBI started investigating, MHA said, study on sovereignty from foreign funds. BJP’s Amit Malviya said on X, Wangchuk and Congress are spreading unrest on the border, inspired by foreign agencies. It creates doubts whether their movement is environmental or is associated with China-Pakistan. Which threatens the strategic stability of Ladakh. Wangchuk said, it is not a foreign fund, a business transaction, has paid tax. But the doubt increases.
—- End —-