Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge Criticizes BJP for Detaining Ladakh Activist Sonam Wangchuk

New Delhi, October 1: Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Indian National Congress, has strongly criticized the BJP government for detaining a group of citizens from Ladakh, including activist Sonam Wangchuk, who were peacefully marching to Delhi. Kharge described the detention as a “cowardly action” and “deeply undemocratic.”

Kharge posted on X, “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!”

Congress MP KC Venugopal echoed Kharge’s sentiments, stating that the BJP was repeating past mistakes. Venugopal said, “A day before Gandhi Jayanti, the Government of India is out to kill his ideals once again. The arrest of Sonam Wangchuk ji shows the government is scared of anyone who speaks up for their rights. Ladakh has been silenced, stripped of its democratic rights, and on the verge of being handed over to large corporates. This protest is months old, and the BJP is silly to think such petty acts of cowardice are going to deter those who have embarked on a Gandhian mission. The Modi regime is hell bent on repeating the sins that have caused their downfall.”

Ladakh MP Haji Hanifa Jan expressed deep concern over the government’s handling of the ongoing issues in the region. He urged the government to facilitate a platform where they could submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Modi or engage in talks with leadership to resolve the issues. Jan said, “For the last three years, we have been raising our concerns in a very peaceful manner…several rounds of discussions were also held with the government…we hoped that the talks would continue after the formation of the new government but it did not happen…We set out on foot from Leh under the banner of Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Apex Body with the hope that we would present our views to the central government in the national capital and our concerns would be heard. But unfortunately, Sonam Wangchuk and his team were detained yesterday…We urge the government to provide us a place from where we can submit a memorandum to PM Modi or hold talks with the leadership to resolve this issue.”

The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Apex Body, Leh have called for a bandh across Ladakh following the detention of renowned activist Sonam Wangchuk on Monday night. Hajan Fathima Bano, an 87-year-old Apex activist, voiced her concerns over the detention of Wangchuk and others. She stated, “We’ve heard they have been apprehended. They didn’t go to engage in conflict; they went to advocate for the sixth schedule on behalf of the people of Ladakh. We are willing to give our lives for them. They shouldn’t be held captive.”

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, said Delhi Police. Wangchuk and other volunteers were embarking on a foot march from Leh to New Delhi to urge the Centre to resume dialogue with Ladakh’s leadership regarding their demands. One of their key demands is for Ladakh to be included in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, granting law-making powers to the local population to protect their land and cultural identity.