Gitanjali calls Wangchuk a “political prisoner” and claims that officials repeat false narratives spread online to defame him. She says independent agencies already checked many allegations and found them baseless. Wangchuk has spent nearly two months in jail after a peaceful protest turned violent on September 24. He now faces charges under the National Security Act, and Gitanjali has challenged his detention in the Supreme Court.

She says she has avoided visiting Ladakh due to fear of arrest, adding that normalcy has not returned. Detentions continue, and families live under stress.

Gitanjali also explains how HIAL and SECMOL, the learning institutes co-founded by Wangchuk, suffered a two-year setback because academic programmes stopped and authorities increased scrutiny.

For Ladakhis, she says, any negotiation with the Centre must involve Wangchuk. His absence, she believes, weakens the democratic voice of the region.

The post Talks Without Sonam Wangchuk Unacceptable to Ladakh appeared first on India Podcast.

Wangchuk was detained on September 26, only two days after protests in Ladakh demanding Statehood and Sixth Schedule status. The protests turned violent, leaving four people dead and nearly 90 injured. Authorities accused the climate activist of encouraging the unrest, but his family insists he only supported peaceful democratic rights.

The Supreme Court earlier asked the Centre and the Ladakh administration to respond to the amended petition. The case will now appear before a bench led by Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria. The new date gives both sides more time but also adds pressure on the government to clarify its position.

Wangchuk’s supporters believe the detention raises deeper concerns about public order and dissent in Ladakh. Many hope the upcoming hearing will bring clarity and restore trust in due process.

The post Sonam Wangchuk NSA Detention Hearing Moved to December 8 appeared first on India Podcast.

Ladakh Police chief SD Singh Jamwal led the team that detained Wangchuk around 2:30 pm. Soon after, he was moved to a high-security jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Authorities also imposed curfew-like restrictions and suspended mobile internet services across Leh district as a precautionary measure.

Sources said Wangchuk was preparing to address a virtual press briefing from his village when police arrived. His wife, Gitanjali Angmo, condemned the arrest, alleging that police “ransacked” their home and accused the government of running a smear campaign. “This is the worst form of democracy. They have taken him away without trial or reason,” she said, calling the move an attempt to portray her husband as “anti-national.”

Opposition leaders also criticized the action. The Congress accused the BJP-led government of diverting attention from its failure to maintain law and order in Ladakh. J&K National Conference leader Omar Abdullah called the arrest “unfortunate,” while PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti described it as “deeply disturbing,” noting Wangchuk’s lifelong commitment to peace and education.

Wangchuk, a key leader of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance, has long campaigned for Ladakh’s statehood and constitutional safeguards. He recently ended a 35-day hunger strike after violence broke out in Leh, where protesters set fire to the BJP office, the Leh Hill Council building, and several vehicles.

Speaking to the media hours before his arrest, Wangchuk questioned how a person dedicated to education and innovation could be jailed while “those who loot the government walk free.”

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