Sonam Wangchuk being vilified as ‘anti-national’ in a targeted campaign to weaken Ladakh movement: Gitanjali Angmo
New Delhi, Sept 30: Gitanjali Angmo, wife of renowned educationist, innovator, and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, has strongly condemned what she termed a “coordinated witch-hunt” against her husband, alleging that baseless and politically motivated narratives are being spread to project him as an “anti-national” and discredit the people’s movement for Ladakh’s constitutional rights. Wangchuk, a leading voice in the campaign seeking statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 27 in Leh following violent protests on September 24 that left four people dead and dozens injured. He was later shifted to Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Angmo said she had not been allowed to contact her husband and had not received any official documentation explaining the grounds for his detention. “There was absolutely no need to invoke the NSA against Sonam Wangchuk. A one-sided narrative is being peddled to malign his image and weaken the movement for Ladakh’s rights,” she said. Angmo claimed she herself felt “virtually under house arrest” in Ladakh and travelled to the national capital to bring the truth before the nation.
She challenged authorities to an open public debate on all allegations, including insinuations of links to Pakistan, and dismissed them as fabrications. “If a Pakistani was spotted in Ladakh, how did the security breach occur? That is a question for the Ministry of Home Affairs, not Sonam Wangchuk,” she remarked. Angmo also clarified that HIAL and SECMOL, the two educational and research institutions founded by Wangchuk had already submitted all relevant documents to the CBI and the Income Tax Department. “Despite this, a smokescreen is being created to defame Sonam and delegitimise the movement,” she alleged.
Angmo strongly refuted claims of FCRA violations and financial irregularities, explaining that HIAL’s earnings come from “export of services” through institutional research projects. Regarding the cancellation of SECMOL’s FCRA registration, she said the term “food sovereignty” was misinterpreted, stressing that it refers to communities producing their own food as a measure of national strength.
Responding to criticism over Wangchuk’s Magsaysay Award, Angmo questioned why such an accolade was now being framed negatively. “Nearly 60 Indians, including legends like Vinoba Bhave, Satyajit Ray, MS Subbulakshmi, and MS Swaminathan, have received the Magsaysay. Many of them were later honoured with Padma awards. If Sonam is anti-national, is the government awarding anti-nationals?” she asked.
She also defended Wangchuk’s visit to Pakistan earlier this year for a UN climate conference organised by Dawn Media, where he had publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mission LiFE initiative. Angmo emphasised that Wangchuk has always espoused Gandhian methods of peaceful protest and was sitting on a hunger strike when the September 24 violence erupted. “He was unaware of the events unfolding around him. The Union Territory administration must explain how violence broke out and why security failed,” she said.
Angmo further highlighted Wangchuk’s globally acclaimed contributions to sustainable innovation, including passive solar-heated buildings and the Ice Stupa project. “HIAL has constructed over 1,80,000 sq. ft. of passive solar structures that save 4,000 tonnes of carbon per month, a technology unmatched anywhere in the world. If we treat such people as criminals, how will India ever become a Vishwaguru?” she asked.
She accused authorities of exploiting Wangchuk’s innovations while denying him credit. “The same government that honoured his work is now calling him anti-national. You cannot benefit from his ideas and then vilify the man behind them,” she said. Angmo confirmed that she and Wangchuk’s legal team are awaiting formal detention orders and vowed to fight the case “using every legal avenue available.”
She also revealed that Leh remains under curfew with security forces deployed around the HIAL campus, underscoring the tense atmosphere in Ladakh since Wangchuk’s detention. “This is more than just about one person. It is about silencing an entire people’s voice. But we will not rest until the truth comes out,” she asserted.
