Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, fiercely condemned the accusations leveled against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. He accused the Central government of deploying its entire machinery to harass Wangchuk, a visionary who innovates for India’s future. Kejriwal expressed deep sorrow over how such leaders hold the nation’s reins, questioning how the country can advance under their watch.
In a pointed post on X, Kejriwal urged people to read about Wangchuk. “The person who thinks about the country, education, and creates new inventions faces torment from the central government’s cheap politics,” he wrote. This outcry comes amid unrest in Ladakh, where Wangchuk recently ended a 14-day hunger strike. For five years, he has protested peacefully for statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, even walking barefoot from Leh to Delhi to highlight these demands.
Authorities in Leh responded by imposing strict restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The District Magistrate banned assemblies of five or more people and prohibited processions without prior approval. Similar statehood calls echo in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2019 abrogation of Article 370.
Yet, the Government of India maintains active engagement. It has held multiple meetings with the Apex Body Leh and Kargil Democratic Alliance through the High-Powered Committee and sub-committees. More talks are scheduled for September 25-26 and October 6. Kejriwal’s bold stance spotlights the tension between activism and governance in India’s sensitive border regions.
