Protests against the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk, a social activist, took place in Ladakh and Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) organized a candlelight march on Friday evening in Delhi to protest Wangchuk’s arrest. The march, led by Delhi state convener Saurabh Bharadwaj, had a large turnout of AAP workers. Bharadwaj spoke about Wangchuk’s recognition, and highlighted his work in the field of social service and his efforts in the field of education. Bharadwaj mentioned that when the Indian government denied any incursions, the shepherds in Ladakh were fighting with the intruders. He also underscored that the people of Ladakh and Kargil have consistently opposed external threats.
Sanjay Singh, a senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha member, criticized the central government’s handling of the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk. He described the use of the NSA against Wangchuk as a symbol of authoritarianism. Wangchuk, through Gandhian methods, was advocating for full statehood for Ladakh-Kargil, along with improved education, healthcare, and employment for the region’s residents. He said that the Modi government is trying to label people as enemies of the state.
Singh said that Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on Friday. Sonam Wangchuk, who is involved in providing education to children. He has dedicated his life to such children. He has been demanding the rights of the people of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule for the last five years. His demands include education, employment, land, healthcare, and the granting of full statehood to Ladakh-Kargil.