New Delhi- In a wave of widespread condemnation cutting across society, from ordinary citizens and academics to opposition leaders and political organizations, voices from across India have risen against the central government's arrest of Ladakh-based climate activist and innovator Sonam Wangchuk. Detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, Wangchuk's transfer to Jodhpur Central Jail has ignited accusations of stifling dissent and betraying electoral promises to the region's tribal communities.

Sonam Wangchuk, an acclaimed engineer and founder of the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), has long championed environmental conservation, sustainable education, and the protection of Ladakh's fragile ecology. His activism gained global attention through his portrayal by actor Aamir Khan in the 2009 film Three Idiots. However, recent events have thrust him into the center of a political storm.

The arrest follows violent clashes on September 24 in Leh, where protesters demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution clashed with security forces. The confrontation left four young men dead and over 80 others injured, prompting an internet shutdown and closure of shops in the region. Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike since September 10 to highlight these demands, was accused by the Ladakh administration of delivering "provocative speeches" that incited the mob. Officials described his activities as "prejudicial to the security of the state," citing alleged foreign connections, including links with Pakistan.

The protests trace back to 2019, when the BJP-led government promised constitutional safeguards for Ladakh's tribal lands and autonomy following its bifurcation from Jammu and Kashmir as a Union Territory. These assurances, including protection from land acquisition by outsiders and job reservations for locals, remain unfulfilled, fueling a year-long agitation. The Ministry of Home Affairs recently canceled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) certification of Wangchuk's NGO, citing a misinterpretation of one of its studies, further escalating tensions.

Under the NSA, Wangchuk faces up to 12 months of detention without bail. He was swiftly transferred from Leh to Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan under heavy security, a facility previously known for housing high-profile inmates like actor Salman Khan. The Ladakh administration defended the move as necessary to prevent further unrest, amid claims of his involvement in activities threatening regional stability

A Chorus of Condemnation by Political Parties

The arrest has sparked a digital outpouring on social media platforms, with hashtags like #FreeSonamWangchuk and #ISupportSonamWangchuk trending. Opposition leaders and organizations have labeled it an assault on democracy, while everyday users and activists decry it as a suppression of peaceful dissent.

Congress President and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge stated in a post, "The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the pathetic handling of the situation in Ladakh by the Government & subsequent arrest of Sonam Wangchuk under the draconian National Security Act. At the heart of the crisis lies the BJP’s persistent betrayal of the aspirations of people of Ladakh. For over a year now, there has been turmoil and instead of lending a patient hearing to the cries of the people for inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, Modi Government is responding with violence. The BJP had pledged Sixth Schedule status for the region, sadly that promise has been squarely abandoned... We demand a judicial investigation into the deaths of four innocent young men and the serious injuries inflicted upon many others. The democratic institutions and democracy need to be revived and restored in Ladakh."

M.A. Baby, General Secretary, Communist Party of India (Marxist) wrote: "The arrest of Sonam Wangchuk under NSA betrays the extreme authoritarian nature of Modi-Amit Shah-Mohan Bhagwat rule, displaying neo-fascist trends. Release him immediately, withdraw all cases and negotiate and settle with those who are in struggle following the failure of the BJP govt in fulfilling assurances."

The Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) stated that the arrest "clearly exposes the government’s witch-hunting agenda and its attempt to shift blame for a crisis born of the government’s own betrayal of people’s democratic aspirations and trampling of the Constitution."

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren in a post said, "Another ray of hope behind bars... The entire nation is watching the conspiracies being hatched to silence another strong voice dedicated to the protection of water, forests, land, language, culture, and rights, and to the nation."

AAP leader and former deputy CM of Delhi Manish Sisodia stated in a post, " Sonam Wangchuk is not a threat to the country, but the threat is those who put people like Sonam Wangchuk in jail…"

Mir Quadeer, Telangana Youth Congress (@QuadeersultanM): "If a social reformer like Sonam Wangchuk is being jailed, then understand — the attack is not just on one individual, but on our entire democracy and Constitution. #SonamWangchuk"

Veteran journalist Rajdeep Sardesai opined, " Once attending a media event organised by Dawn newspaper (the biggest newspaper group) in Pakistan is pitched as one of the reasons for deeming him to be ‘anti national’? That’s like saying that if a Pakistani attends a Times of India media event, he will be branded anti national by their establishment. Can our cops at least find better evidence to arrest someone of his stature summarily under NSA? (Pl don’t forget as a Magsaysay award winner, Wangchuk work has been globally recognised)."