SDPI Demands Immediate Release of Sonam Wangchuk, Condemns Arbitrary Arrest Under NSA

Mohammad Shafi, National Vice President of the Social Democratic Party of India strongly condemns the arbitrary arrest of renowned climate activist and Ramon Magsaysay Award recipient Sonam Wangchuk under the draconian National Security Act in Leh, Ladakh. This detention is a blatant denial of constitutional rights, including the freedoms of peaceful protest and expression guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution.

Wangchuk, known globally for his commitment to non-violence and environmental justice, was detained on September 26, 2025, after protests demanding full statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh escalated into clashes. The central government has ignored these demands for over six years, pushing the region into deeper unrest.

The BJP regime has failed to restore peace in Ladakh and has responded with authoritarian arrogance instead of democratic engagement. The protests in Leh on September 24, which resulted in four civilian deaths and more than 90 injuries, stem directly from governmental neglect and heavy-handed tactics. Rather than addressing the underlying concerns, the authorities chose curfews, internet shutdowns, and the misuse of the NSA, that permits detention without trial for up to 12 months, against a peaceful campaigner like Wangchuk.

The government’s betrayal of Ladakh is further evident in its broken promises from 2019, when Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated. Commitments of statehood, Sixth Schedule inclusion for tribal protection, job reservations for locals, and safeguards for fragile ecosystems remain unfulfilled. This has led to rising frustration, youth unemployment exceeding 40 percent, and widespread fear of environmental destruction from unchecked mining and tourism. Instead of constructive dialogue, the ruling regime is playing political games with the lives of Ladakhis, mirroring its failures in Manipur and Kashmir where central rule has bred ethnic violence and human rights abuses.

International media has also drawn attention to India’s shrinking civic space under the Modi government. The cancellation of Wangchuk’s NGO SECMOL’s FCRA license on September 25, on flimsy allegations of fund misuse, reflects a calculated attempt to financially cripple his work and silence dissent.

SDPI demands the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk and all detained protesters. The government must engage in meaningful talks with the Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance to implement Ladakh’s long-pending demands. Continued suppression will only deepen alienation in this strategically vital Himalayan region, weaken India’s democratic values, and embolden external threats.