Cricket fine, Conference not?: Ladakh activists as they demand Sonam Wangchuks release
A group of Ladakhi activists held a press conference in Delhi, protesting Wangchuk’s arrest under the National Security Act.
PTC News Desk: Leaders of the Kargil Democratic Alliance today demanded the immediate release of Sonam Wangchuk, questioning why the activist was being linked to Pakistan merely for attending a climate change conference in Islamabad. They criticised the politicisation of his visit, pointing out that India continues to play cricket with Pakistan despite strained relations.
A group of Ladakhi activists held a press conference in Delhi, protesting Wangchuk’s arrest under the National Security Act. The Ramon Magsaysay awardee was taken into custody last week following unrest in Ladakh that left four people dead. Authorities have accused him of instigating violence through his speeches. He is currently lodged in Jodhpur jail.
At the press meet, Sajjad Kargili of the Kargil Democratic Alliance argued, “He participated in a UN climate change conference. If cricket matches with Pakistan are acceptable, why is his visit being politicised?”
Earlier, Ladakh’s Director General of Police, S.D. Singh Jamwal, had flagged Wangchuk’s “suspicious” visits to Pakistan, noting that he had attended an event organised by the newspaper Dawn and maintained contact with a Pakistani national of Indian origin. This trip took place in February this year.
Social entrepreneur and Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, has told NDTV that the couple went to Pakistan to attend a UN conference on climate change.
"It was a conference that was held at the behest of the United Nations... which works with all in the Himalayan region because climate change and glaciers are not going to look at your boundaries to cause a flood in Pakistan or India. Some issues go beyond geopolitics and where countries, even though they may have geopolitical tension, have to work together," she said, adding that Wangchuk even praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his address at the conference for his initiatives on fighting air pollution, reducing carbon emissions, and dealing with climate change.
The Kargil Democratic Alliance has sought a judicial probe into the September 24 violence in Leh. "We have given our blood to protect the borders. How is it fair to treat us this way? One of the dead was a soldier, and the responsibility lies with the government. Ordering fire on protesters is itself a crime," Kargili said.