The Centre, which accused activist Sonam Wangchuk of provoking the mob violence in Ladakh, cancelled the FCRA licence of Wangchuk-led Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL).
According to media reports, the funding for SECMOL was cancelled by the government, citing multiple violations under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). A CBI probe has also been launched against his organisation.
The move comes even as Wangchuk called the home ministry's charge that he instigated the recent violent protests in Ladakh a "scapegoat tactic" intended to avoid dealing with the core problems of the Himalayan region.
"I had received a notice about a CBI inquiry stating that your organisation received foreign funding even when it did not have FCRA. We did not get FCRA because we don't want funds from abroad. United Nations team wanted to take our Passive Solar Heated Building to Afghanistan, and for this, they gave us a fee. We also got fees with tax from Switzerland and Italy organisations for supplying knowledge to them about our artificial glaciers...We are getting I-T summons," he said.
#WATCH | Leh, Ladakh | Over CBI probe on his institute for alleged FCRA violation, Activist Sonam Wangchuk says, "In the series of witch hunting, yesterday's events were the last and all blame was put on Sonam Wangchuk."
— ANI (@ANI) September 25, 2025
"A day later (after Leh protests), the Home Ministry of… pic.twitter.com/YtRscAPnx7
The Centre had alleged that the mob violence was guided by the "provocative statements" of Wangchuk, and certain "politically motivated" individuals were not happy with the progress made in the ongoing talks between the representatives of the government and Ladakhi groups.
In a statement, the Union home ministry said barring a few unfortunate incidents that happened early on Wednesday, the situation was brought under control by 4 pm and asked everyone not to circulate old and provocative videos in the media and social media.
"It is well known that the government of India has been actively engaged with the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance. Series of meetings were held with them through formal channel of High Powered Committee (HPC) as well as sub-committee and multiple informal meetings with leaders," the statement.
Reacting to the home ministry's charges, Wangchuk said he is prepared to be arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
"To say it was instigated by me, or sometimes by Congress, is to find a scapegoat, rather than addressing the core of the problem, and this will lead us nowhere.
"They may be clever in making somebody else a scapegoat, but they are not wise. At this time, we all need wisdom rather than 'cleverness' because youths are already frustrated," Wangchuk told news agency PTI.
