Interview/ Gitanjali Angmo, social entrepreneur and Sonam Wangchuk’s wife
Q/ Your husband has been accused of inciting violence during the September 24 protests.
A/ This allegation is absolutely baseless. On the day of the incident, he was in a completely different park and was not even aware when violence broke out. Videos clearly show that the protest was peaceful until tear gas was used on the youth. If anyone must be answerable, it is the CRPF (Central Reserve Police Force) and the home ministry, who ordered the firing. Ladakhi youth have no history of violence.
Q/ Police say he provoked the youth by referring to movements like the Arab Spring and Gen Z protests in Nepal.
A/ His words have been taken out of context and blown out of proportion. He cited examples from neighbouring countries not to provoke unrest here, but to urge our government to act responsibly and avoid the same mistakes. He even said that if a sacrifice is needed, let it be his own life. Twisting that into a call for violence is dishonest and unfair.
Q/ The authorities allege that he misused foreign funding.
A/ I urge the authorities to produce proof.
Q/ The government has cancelled the registration of Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh, citing violations under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.
A/ One of the claims links “food sovereignty” to “national sovereignty”. This is a gross misinterpretation and frankly insulting. To suggest that an educational institution working with students for decades is a threat to national security is not only frivolous, but also undermines the government’s own credibility.
Q/ The land lease for Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh, which you co-founded, has also been cancelled. How has this affected your educational initiatives?
A/ This began with a notice on August 21 about the cancellation of our land allotment. The claim itself is baseless as there is no clear policy framework for such leases in Ladakh. But the bigger damage is the atmosphere of hostility this has created for our students. With curfews and repeated inquiries from the IT department and the CBI, it is becoming harder to provide a stable learning environment. By targeting the institute, the government is harming not just our students but also mountain communities and climate-vulnerable regions worldwide that could benefit from the innovations.
Q/ Wangchuk wanted immediate talks instead of waiting till October 6, as planned by the Centre. Critics say his hard line added to the tension.
A/ Absolutely not. He has been consistently peaceful. But the government’s delays have caused frustration. Ladakh is an ecologically fragile, water-stressed region with just three lakh people. Projects like the proposed 13GW solar park in Changthang threaten our land and livelihoods. The urgency is real. If the government had acted responsibly, there would be no tension. Blaming him is just a way to avoid accountability.
Q/ Have you been informed of the exact charges? How will you fight his arrest in court?
A/ I was informed that he has been detained under the National Security Act, Section 3(2), and flown from Ladakh to Jodhpur on September 26. Beyond that, there has been no communication. Even the promised phone call upon his arrival never happened. We will fight this legally with full determination.
Q/ How is your family coping with his arrest?
A/ We are standing strong and unwavering. The family has drawn strength from the overwhelming support pouring in from Ladakh, from across the country, and even internationally. Yes, it is painful, but our resolve is firmer than ever.