New Delhi: Gitanjali Angmo, wife of education reformer and activist Sonam Wangchuk and co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), on Tuesday accused authorities of spreading “baseless narratives” to portray him as “anti-national” in what she described as a “witch-hunt.”
Wangchuk, a leading advocate for statehood and the extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh, was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) in Leh on Friday over alleged involvement in violent protests on September 24, which left four dead and many others injured, including security personnel. He was subsequently transferred to a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Speaking to reporters, Angmo challenged authorities to an open debate over the allegations, including purported links to Pakistan, and said she has been unable to contact Wangchuk or obtain formal documents detailing the charges.
“There was no need to invoke the NSA against Sonam Wangchuk. They are presenting one-sided narratives,” she said, adding that she felt “almost under house arrest” herself, prompting her visit to the national capital.
Describing the situation as an attempt to weaken the movement for Sixth Schedule protections, Angmo said her organizations, HIAL and The Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), had submitted all required documents to the CBI and Income Tax Department.
“A witch-hunt has been ongoing. Despite providing clarifications, a smokescreen is being created to defame Sonam and weaken the Sixth Schedule movement,” she alleged.
Angmo also addressed doubts about Wangchuk’s Magsaysay Award, noting that around 60 Indians, including Vinoba Bhave, Satyajit Ray, MS Subbulakshmi, and MS Swaminathan, have received it. “Does that mean the government awards anti-nationals?” she asked.
She refuted allegations of FCRA violations and financial irregularities, explaining that HIAL’s earnings came from research services, and clarified that SECMOL’s FCRA cancellation stemmed from a misinterpretation of its “food sovereignty” initiative.
Angmo questioned security lapses following reports of a Pakistani operative in Ladakh, stating, “If a Pakistani was present in Ladakh, why was there a security breach? This is not for Sonam Wangchuk to explain—MHA should clarify.”
She defended Wangchuk’s February visit to Pakistan for a UN-backed climate conference, noting his public support for Prime Minister Modi’s Mission LiFE during the event.
Angmo maintained that Wangchuk has always endorsed Gandhian methods of protest, blaming the Union Territory administration for the recent violence. “Sonam was at the hunger strike site and unaware of what was happening. He is not responsible; the administration should explain the breach and the violence,” she said.
Highlighting Wangchuk’s accolades, Angmo noted awards for HIAL’s passive solar-heated building technology and the Ice Stupa project, which has built 1,80,000 sq ft of structures saving around 4,000 tonnes of carbon monthly. “If innovators like him are treated this way, how can India become a ‘Vishwaguru’?” she asked.
Angmo questioned the sudden labeling of Wangchuk as anti-national, saying, “If he is anti-national, why did the government give him so many awards? His innovations are used widely, yet he is treated like a criminal.”
She added that Wangchuk’s legal team is still awaiting formal detention orders and promised to “use the best legal system to defend him and ensure the truth emerges.”
Currently, Leh remains under curfew, and security forces are deployed around the HIAL campus.
