'Which Anti-National Builds Homes for Jawans?': Sonam Wangchuk's Wife Hits Back

From allegations of Pakistan links to 'anti-national' tag, Gitanjali Angmo debunks 'witch hunt' of Sonam Wangchuk.

'Which Anti-National Builds Homes for Jawans?': Sonam Wangchuk's Wife Hits Back After His Arrest

(Photo: Facebook/Sonam Wabgchuk)

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s wife, Gitanjali Angmo Wangchuk, on Tuesday, 30 September, dismissed the Centre’s claims linking her husband to Pakistan, calling the allegations baseless.

Speaking at a press conference in Delhi, Angmo said that all the narratives being spread about Sonam, the Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), and the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), are completely false and called them “outright lies”.

Wangchuk was arrested on 24 September under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), after clashes between security forces and protesters during a shutdown in Leh left four people dead and dozens injured.

He was among more than 50 people taken into custody and has since been held in Jodhpur Central Jail.

"For the last one month, and for the past four years, a lot of witch-hunting has been happening against us. All these documents—financial and legal—have been given to everyone from the CBI to the Income Tax Department. And still, a smokescreen is being created to defame Sonam so that, by creating a narrative against him, his Sixth Schedule movement can be weakened."

Gitanjali Angmo Wangchuk

'He Went to Pakistan, So What?'

Angmo addressed the controversy surrounding Wangchuk's visit to Pakistan in February 2025 and explained why he was there.

“The allegation made against him is that he went to Pakistan for a conference. Did he do anything wrong? In February, the United Nations (UN) and Dawn media organised a conference,” she said.

“We know that the Hindukush Himalayas touch eight countries. The Himalayas are called ‘the third pole’ because they provide water to two billion people. These are countries including Afghanistan and Bangladesh, China, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bhutan. ICIMOD (the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development) is an initiative that originated in Kathmandu (Nepal), of which we are consortium partners—the Himalayan University Consortium. We keep meeting in Kathmandu and at other conferences. He did nothing wrong by attending the conference. In fact, he praised PM Modi's 'Mission Life' initiative on the stage there,” Angmo said.

“If you are using that as context to insinuate that a Pakistani was spotted in Ladakh, they need to answer how there could have been a security protocol breach. Sonam Wangchuk is not answerable for that; the MHA is,” she added.

'Claims of FCRA Violation Baseless'

Angmo further went on to counter allegations of FCRA violations by Wangchuk's institutes HIAL and SECMOL.

“FCRA clearance is required for donations, and HIAL has never received any. HIAL is an institute whose research was bought by international universities. That is an income, not a donation. It is the export of services. This is not something to be ashamed of, but to be proud of—that there is an Indian institute whose research is being appreciated abroad,” she said.

“All these service agreements were given to the CBI. When the CBI came to us, it was not a raid but a fact-finding exercise. They had accepted that there were no violations there,” Angmo said.

“FCRA of SECMOL was also cancelled on baseless grounds. You must have read how they interpreted food sovereignty as national sovereignty. How can you interpret food sovereignty as national sovereignty?” she asked.

'Still Waiting for Arrest Order Copy'

Angmo told the media that the police are yet to hand over the detention order copy despite five days of his arrest.

“We are waiting for the formal detention order to know the charges for which he has been arrested. We have just been told over the phone that he has been arrested under the NSA, but we are waiting for a copy of the order so we can respond effectively. Please be assured that we will use the best legal system in the country to defend him and to fight it. We will not rest till the truth has been revealed. That I can promise you!” she said.

Angmo reiterated that Wangchuk had no role in the violence that took place during the protests.

“When the violence happened, Sonam was in a different park. He had no idea. The people of Ladakh, including our own staff, went for a peaceful protest. In the past five years, no violence or instigation has taken place in any marches or strikes that Sonam held. Why would he do it now?” she asked.

“If violence took place, it was the job of the DGP, the LG, and the administration to stop that breach. Sonam Wangchuk has always called for a Gandhian way of protesting; he has always stood for empowering youth,” she said.

“This same government’s Minister of Energy, Mr R. K. Singh, has conferred an award on HIAL for our passive solar-heated buildings. This same government’s Tribal Affairs Minister has awarded the Ice Stupa project. This same government has awarded HIAL for best tourism eco project. If Sonam Wangchuk was anti-national, why did the government award him and his efforts? How did he become an anti-national in one month?” Angmo asked.

Activists Rally Behind Wangchuk

Demanding Sonam Wangchuk's immediate release, other activists also spoke at another press conference held in Delhi shortly after, poking holes in the Centre's narrative and questioning the motives behind the charges.

Speaking about the charges against Wangchuk for inciting violence under the NSA, political activist Yogendra Yadav said, “Sonam Wangchuk, who has falsely been arrested for spreading violence, was the one who kept the movement non-violent for six years.”

He also hit out at media outlets and newspapers for “maligning him by running ‘source-based’ information planted by the government.”

"They have no evidence that he instigated violence. If he did, why not show even a single video? This is precisely why they invoked the NSA because there’s no evidence, and under the Act, they don’t need to provide any to make an arrest."

Yogendra Yadav

Also speaking at the same press conference, lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan added that Wangchuk was only demanding what had been promised after the abrogation of Article 370: statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule.

Over the past seven years, he has undertaken several hunger strikes for the same cause.

“He’s an innovator and educator. He’s a climatologist who spoke up for the rights of Ladakh. He’s won scores of awards, including awards by the government. He was not opposed to the Modi government. He was only asking for what was promised,” said Bhushan.

He alleged that the violence was a result of the police acting aggressively, firing tear gas at peaceful protesters. That’s when stone-pelting broke out, leaving four people dead and 80–90 still hospitalised.

“They are supposed to give a copy of the order within five days in an NSA arrest. It’s the fifth day today, and neither he nor Gitanjali Angmo has received the order yet.”

Prashant Bhushan

The Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) and Apex Body Leh have announced that they will not engage in talks with the Centre until all detained activists, including Sonam Wangchuk, are released and a judicial probe is ordered into the police firing that occurred on 24 September.

Ladakh, formerly part of Jammu and Kashmir, became a Union Territory in 2019 when the BJP-led Central government revoked the region’s special status and split the state into two Union Territories.

Initially welcomed, the move has faced growing opposition over the past three years, with dissatisfied residents increasingly demanding statehood and constitutional safeguards for their land, culture, and resources.

Activists are now demanding the restoration of statehood and protection under the Sixth Schedule, which safeguards tribal rights and heritage, with Sonam Wangchuk at the forefront of this growing movement for several years.