Centre Feared Wangchuk’s Influence, Detained Him to Keep Him Out of Statehood Talks: Wife
New Delhi, Oct 29 : Gitanjali Angmo, wife of climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk, has claimed that her husband’s detention under the National Security Act (NSA) was a calculated move by the government to keep him away from crucial statehood discussions concerning Ladakh. Speaking to reporters in the national capital after submitting an amended petition before the Supreme Court, Angmo alleged that the Centre saw Wangchuk as a “tough negotiator” who would not compromise on the core demands of Ladakh’s people.
“The government didn’t want him at the negotiation table because they know he’s a tough nut to crack,” Angmo said, referring to the ongoing dialogue between the Centre and two major Ladakhi bodies, the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA). “They fear he would insist on what’s right for Ladakh, not on what’s convenient for the government,” she added.
Wangchuk, a globally recognized climate activist and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient, was detained on September 26, two days after violent protests in Leh demanding statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule left four people dead and nearly 90 injured. The government accused him of inciting violence, a claim his supporters have strongly refuted. Under the NSA, individuals can be detained for up to 12 months without trial to prevent actions deemed “prejudicial to national security.”
Angmo stated that her husband had never been an official member of either LAB or KDA but was included in July through a “unilateral decision” by both groups, recognizing his credibility and commitment to Ladakh’s interests. She claimed the Centre viewed this as a challenge. “The moment they realized he would be part of the talks, they decided to remove him from the picture. His presence would have ensured transparency and made it difficult for them to push half-baked solutions,” she said.
The educationist further alleged that Wangchuk’s detention was part of a deliberate strategy to weaken the negotiation process. “They wanted to avoid difficult questions and independent scrutiny. They know Sonam would never accept cosmetic promises or symbolic gestures. He would push for constitutional safeguards and institutional autonomy for Ladakh,” she remarked.
Angmo described her husband as a “non-violent reformer” and “patriot” who has always emphasized peaceful activism. She said that the statements cited in the government’s detention order were misrepresented and selectively taken out of context. “The order lists videos that are 14 to 15 months old or from well after the protests. None of them show him inciting violence or making inflammatory remarks. In fact, in one of those very videos, he clearly says, ‘We will not do it that way. Our protest will remain peaceful,’” she clarified.
She accused the government of using a “smokescreen of misinformation” to justify its decision. “They knew it would look bad to exclude him openly from the statehood talks, so they chose the easier route — to detain him. It’s tragic that someone who has dedicated his life to Ladakh’s development and environmental conservation is being treated like a threat,” she said.
Angmo also pointed out inconsistencies in the detention order, including references to events in Nepal and Bangladesh which, she said, had been misinterpreted. “Those remarks were not even his own. He was quoting others while making a point about peaceful resistance. The entire narrative has been twisted to fit a pre-decided outcome,” she alleged.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday accepted Angmo’s amended petition challenging Wangchuk’s detention and issued notices to the Centre and the Union Territory administration of Ladakh. A bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the government, to file a response within 10 days. The case has been scheduled for hearing on November 24.
Angmo expressed hope that justice would prevail and her husband’s voice would not be silenced. “Sonam’s only fault is that he speaks truth to power, calmly, courageously, and with conviction.
