Congress Leaders Criticize BJP for Detaining Ladakh Activist Sonam Wangchuk and Supporters

New Delhi, October 1: Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has criticized the BJP government for detaining a group of citizens from Ladakh, including activist Sonam Wangchuk. The group was peacefully marching from Ladakh to Rajghat in Delhi to demand the inclusion of Ladakh under the 6th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

KC Venugopal's Statement

KC Venugopal questioned the police's decision to detain the marchers for more than 24 hours. He said, "I don't understand the manner in which the government is going. Sonam Wangchuk is a very respectable personality of Ladakh. People respect him all over India. They have planned a peaceful march from Ladakh to Rajghat. They have been walking from Ladakh but not a single incident happened. Many Congress leaders have also been detained with them."

Venugopal also mentioned that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke to the Commissioner of Police in Delhi but was told that the orders came from top officials. He emphasized that the protesters were only asking for their legitimate rights and that the government should engage in dialogue with them.

Mallikarjun Kharge's Criticism

President of the Indian National Congress, Mallikarjun Kharge, also criticized the BJP government for the detentions. In a post on X, he called the action "cowardly" and "deeply undemocratic." Kharge wrote, "The arrogance of the Modi Govt consumed in power has detained a group of citizens from Ladakh peacefully marching to Delhi. This is nothing but a cowardly action, and is deeply undemocratic in nature. In Ladakh, there is a growing wave of public support, with widespread calls for safeguarding tribal communities under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Instead, the Modi Govt wants to exploit the ecologically sensitive Himalayan glaciers of Ladakh to benefit its crony friends. This incident tells us that the fight against Modi Govt's brazen despotism is far from over!"

Detention Details

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and his supporters were detained by Delhi Police at the Singhu border on Monday night. Section 163 of the BNS has been imposed at Delhi borders, according to Delhi Police. Wangchuk and other volunteers were marching from Leh to New Delhi to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with Ladakh's leadership regarding their demands, including the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to protect their land and cultural identity.