Leh/New Delhi, Sept 28: Gitanjali Angmo, wife of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, has strongly rejected allegations of Pakistan links and financial misconduct levelled against her husband, calling them “baseless” and “deeply misleading.” She asserted that Wangchuk has been protesting in the “most Gandhian and peaceful manner” and blamed the escalation of violence in Leh on September 24 on the actions of security forces, particularly the CRPF. Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on Friday, two days after a protest demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh turned violent, leaving four people dead and nearly 90 injured.
Angmo, who co-founded the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL) with Wangchuk, told PTI over the phone that she has not been able to speak to her husband since his detention and has not received a copy of the detention order. “We were promised a copy on Friday. We will pursue legal remedies,” she said. Responding to Ladakh DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal’s claim that Wangchuk was in touch with a Pakistani Person of Indian Origin and had links across the border, Angmo clarified that his visits abroad — including one to Pakistan — were strictly professional and focused on climate cooperation.
“All his overseas trips were on official invitations from reputed institutions and international organisations, including the United Nations. The ‘Breathe Pakistan’ conference in February, for instance, was organised by UN Pakistan and Dawn Media, and addressed transboundary climate challenges. The Himalayan glaciers don’t recognise borders — they affect Pakistan, India, Nepal, and beyond,” she explained. Angmo said that Wangchuk even praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the event and that references to movements in Nepal and Bangladesh were merely cited as historical examples of public mobilisation, not calls for unrest.
Dismissing the NSA charges, Angmo said Wangchuk “poses no threat to public order” and has always maintained a non-violent approach, focusing on peaceful protests, hunger strikes, and dialogues to remind the government of its promises to the people of Ladakh. She insisted that he was unaware of any plan for violence during the September 24 protest. “The students and youth were there for a peaceful demonstration. But when CRPF personnel fired tear gas shells, the situation spiralled out of control. My question is: who authorised firing on our own youth?” she asked.
Angmo also refuted claims that Wangchuk delivered provocative speeches, saying his words were mistranslated. “He merely said that change often begins with one individual — and if that individual is him, he is ready to sacrifice himself for the cause,” she clarified. She questioned how someone who has advocated for making shelters for the Indian Army and called for the boycott of Chinese goods could be branded “anti-national.”
On financial allegations, Angmo defended HIAL’s operations, stating that the institution has never violated FCRA norms. “HIAL did not receive foreign donations without clearance; the money came as payment for consultancy services, and service agreements exist to prove that,” she said. The institute, which charges no tuition fees for its 400 students, sustains itself through innovations such as ice stupas and passive solar buildings, deliberately left unpatented to encourage public use.
Angmo said HIAL applied for UGC registration in 2022 and deposited ₹15 lakh, but the process has stalled without explanation. She also highlighted delays in the land lease for the institute due to the administration’s lack of a category for such institutions. “While HIAL is under scrutiny, Sindhu Central University, established in 2021, still lacks a building,” she pointed out.
She emphasised that Wangchuk is not against development but advocates for “mindful development” through constitutional safeguards. She cited HIAL’s proposal to install translucent solar panels in Changthang to generate power while growing fodder for Pashmina goats as an example of sustainable innovation.
Angmo concluded by urging authorities to reconsider their approach. “This is not about opposing the government but about ensuring that Ladakh’s development respects its people, culture, and environment,” she said. Wangchuk’s detention, she added, will not silence the demand for constitutional rights and sustainable growth in the region.