Jammu and Kashmir Deputy CM Criticizes Arrest of Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk

Controversy Surrounds Arrest of Sonam Wangchuk

On Saturday, Surinder Chaudhary, the Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, expressed strong disapproval regarding the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, labeling it as a severe injustice and a mockery of democracy.

Wangchuk was taken into custody by the police on Friday and subsequently transferred to a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. This incident followed protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule, which resulted in the tragic deaths of four individuals and injuries to 90 others.

Speaking to reporters at an event, Chaudhary stated, 'Wangchuk was advocating against global warming and addressing public concerns; sending him to Jodhpur jail without any wrongdoing is unjust and undermines democracy.'

He further criticized the authorities for failing to apprehend those responsible for the arson, questioning, 'What was Wangchuk's fault? Today, the situation is such that even a son does not heed his father's words; how can the people of Ladakh be expected to listen to him?'

The Deputy Chief Minister reflected on the sacrifices made by freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Mahatma Gandhi, suggesting they would be disheartened to see 'innocent individuals imprisoned on false charges and separated from their families in jails, preventing them from meeting each other.'