Sonam Wangchuk’s Wife On Claims Of His Links With Pakistan

Gitanjali Angmo, wife of jailed activist Sonam Wangchuk, dismissed claims that her husband has links with Pakistan or engaged in financial irregularities. She called reports suggesting he incited violence in Leh “misplaced.” Angmo said Wangchuk has always protested in a “most Gandhian way possible” and added that the situation on September 24 escalated due to CRPF actions, not her husband. Wangchuk, a key figure in Ladakh’s rights movement, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) after protests demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh turned violent, leaving four dead and nearly 90 injured.

Wangchuk was moved out of Ladakh following his arrest and is currently lodged in a Jodhpur, Rajasthan prison. Angmo said she has not communicated with him since his detention and has not received a copy of the order. “They promised to send it on Friday. We will take legal recourse,” she told PTI. Authorities cited Wangchuk’s foreign trips, including visits to Pakistan for professional and climate-focused events, as suspicious. The Ladakh DGP noted investigations for alleged Pakistan links after a Pakistani operative was arrested for sending protest videos across the border.

Rejection of Alleged Pakistan Links

Angmo rejected all allegations, saying Wangchuk’s visits were professional. She noted his participation in a United Nations-organised climate conference in Pakistan, where he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She clarified that the ‘Breathe Pakistan’ event in February involved multinational cooperation through ICIMOD and other Himalayan organisations, not political affiliations. “The glacier on top of the Himalayas does not see whether I am flowing into Pakistan or India,” Angmo said. She emphasized that references to Nepal and Bangladesh were part of Sonam’s illustrative examples, not political statements, and urged correct interpretations of his work.

Peaceful Protests and Security Actions

Angmo said Wangchuk’s advocacy has always been nonviolent. She stated that the Leh Apex Body protest was peaceful and that students and youth did not plan violence. She claimed the situation escalated after CRPF personnel fired tear gas, prompting stone-pelting by the youth. Angmo questioned the CRPF’s actions, asking why authorities opened fire on their own citizens and youth. She highlighted that Wangchuk has consistently promoted nonviolent methods to demand rights and reforms in Ladakh, and she called for fair assessment of the events that led to unrest.

Financial Allegations and Institutional Defense

Angmo defended HIAL and Wangchuk’s other initiatives against charges of financial irregularities. She said HIAL’s foreign funding came from consulting assignments, not donations, and the institute does not charge fees for its 400 students. She also addressed delays with FCRA and UGC compliance, attributing them to administrative stalling rather than misconduct. HIAL applies innovations such as ice stupas and passive solar buildings to support sustainable development. Angmo noted that after the September 4 violence, the Union Home Ministry cancelled SECMOL’s FCRA license, but she maintains that Wangchuk and his institutions follow proper procedures and remain committed to educational and environmental work.

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