Kargil, Mar 14: Leaders from Ladakh on Saturday welcomed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s release from Jodhpur jail and called it a positive step while demanding the release of remaining detainees.
Wangchuk was released from prison on Saturday after the Union government revoked his NSA detention with immediate effect.
Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, V K Saxena, welcomed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) decision to revoke the National Security Act (NSA) detention of climate activist, Sonam Wangchuk, adding that all issues could be resolved amicably through dialogue and engagement.
The office of Ladakh L-G posted on X, “Hon’ble Lt Governor, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena has welcomed the decision to revoke the detention of Shri Sonam Wangchuk and said it was a positive step by the Centre towards fostering an environment of peace, stability and mutual trust in Ladakh. “Shri Saxena maintained that there is no space for agitation and violence in #Ladakh and all issues pertaining to the aspirations and concerns of the people, would be addressed through dialogue with various stakeholders, community leaders and citizens in #Ladakh”.
The leaders of the Leh Apex body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) an amalgam of political, social, trade, and religious groups from Leh and Kargil districts, spearheading joint agitation for Sixth Schedule and statehood to Ladakh UT have also welcomed the decision to revoke the detention of Sonam Wangchuk.
The Leh Apex Body (LAB) described the decision of his release as a “big victory” for the people of Ladakh, saying it vindicated their stand on his innocence and removed the “anti-national” blot on the region.
Tsering Dorjay Lakrook, co-chairman of the Leh Apex Body and president of Ladakh Buddhist Association, said that this is a welcome step, “I believe this is good news for the people of Ladakh. Secondly, it also marks a personal victory for Sonam Wangchuk. We have been asserting from the very beginning that the allegations levelled against him were completely baseless, something the government failed to prove in the Supreme Court” he said.
LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjey said the government “saved its face” by revoking Wangchuk’s detention ahead of the Supreme Court hearing later this month, asserting that the peaceful struggle for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution will continue.
Member of Parliament Ladakh, Mohmad Haneefa says, “The Government of India understands that the people of Ladakh are peace-loving, and I welcome this decision” MP hailed his release and urged the government to accept their demands for statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
“We welcome the release of Sonam Wangchuk. But others also need to be released, and the government should also take back the cases filed against people who participated in the protests,” Hanifa said. Hanifa, however, said protest is a Constitutional right, and urged the government to resolve the issue through dialogue.
Kargil Democratic Alliance member Sajjad Kargili, in a post on X, demanded the immediate release of Deldan Namgial and Smanla Dorjey, and appealed to the government to drop all charges against other detainees unconditionally. “The revocation of NSA against Shri Sonam Wangchuk is a welcome move. However, our struggle of our legitimate rights continues,” he said.
Sajjad Hussain Kargili, says, “The people of Ladakh have received good news in the holy month of Ramadan. We wanted the same… This case was unjustified. We have been struggling for a long time for Ladakh’s statehood and the Sixth Schedule. We want the government to fulfil these aspirations of the people of Ladakh through dialogue. Our second demand is that the remaining detainees should also be released, and our people who are now out on bail, all the charges against them should be dropped unconditionally. The people of Ladakh are peace-loving. We have no interest in developing a culture of protests, as if we are sitting idle the whole day and have nothing better to do. So if the government doesn’t want any more protests, they should resume dialogue and fulfil our legitimate demands.” Kargili said.
KDA co chairman Asgar Ali Karbalai also welcomed the release of the climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after six months of detention.
BJP Ladakh President Tashi Gyalson also welcomed revocation of NSA against Sonam Wangchuk
Tashi Gyalson Kachu has welcomed the decision of the Government of India to revoke the detention of Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act. He described the move as a positive step.
