Leaders from the Swaraj India Party, Yogendra Yadav, and senior Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan have strongly opposed the arrest of Ladakh social activist Sonam Wangchuk. They released a statement on Sunday, demanding Wangchuk's immediate and unconditional release.
Prashant Bhushan alleged that the Ministry of Home Affairs unlawfully revoked Sonam's NGO's FCRA certificate, terminated its educational institution's license, and reclaimed its allocated land, actions he described as malicious and illegal. There is no concrete evidence against Sonam. If he had incited violence or caused any form of unrest, at least one video should have surfaced, but nothing of the sort has been found.
Bhushan added that a decision on filing a petition in court against Sonam Wangchuk's allegations will be made at a later stage. Currently, they are awaiting the detention order, which should be issued within five days according to legal procedures.
Meanwhile, Yogendra Yadav criticized the government, emphasizing Sonam Wangchuk's significant work in environmental and educational sectors in Ladakh for many years. According to Yadav, his arrest is not only inappropriate but also a warning bell for democracy and freedom of expression. Yadav, alongside others, calls on the government to immediately and unconditionally release Sonam Wangchuk.
It's notable that in recent times, Sonam Wangchuk has been vocal about Ladakh's autonomy, environmental conservation, and the rights of local people. His arrest has sparked dissatisfaction among various social and political organizations.
