Page 2 - Sonam Wangchuk

Sonam Wangchuk detention, Bihar elections, new US bill on H1-B visa & more top

administration. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar disbursed ₹10,000 each to 2.5 million women under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, bringing the total aid disbursed so far to ₹10,000 crore

Ladakh violence: Wangchuk's wife moves SC seeking his immediate release

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife, Gitanjali Angmo, has moved the Supreme Court seeking his release. Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act on September 26, two days after protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union territory. He is lodged in Jodhpur jail in Rajasthan. Angmo, in her plea filed through lawyer Sarvam Ritam Khare, has challenged Wangchuk's detention, besides seeking his immediate release. The plea also questions the decision to invoke the NSA against Wangchuk. Angmo alleged that she was yet to get a copy of the detention order, in violation of rules. Moreover, she said, she has had no contact so far with Wangchuk. Recently, the Ladakh administration rejected claims of a "witch-hunt" or a "smokescreen" operation against Wangchuk.

Seeking justice and rights becoming an act of treason in country: Uddhav

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday targeted the BJP over the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk in connection with the violence in Ladakh last month and asserted that fighting for rights and justice is becoming an act of treason in the country. Addressing the annual Dussehra rally here, Thackeray also likened the BJP to "a single cell organism amoeba". "It spreads as per its will, forms an alliance as per its will and after the work is done it switches to another (party). It causes stomach ache when it enters the body and disturbs peace when it enters the society. Which is why I call it an amoeba," Thackeray said. There is no link between the BJP and good governance, he added. Thackeray referred to the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conflict-hit Manipur and said the PM did not see the tears of people there. On the alliance with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, Thackeray said, "What did we do on July 5 (a reference to the 'victory rally' of MNS ..

LBA confirms member's suicide in Ladakh, says he admired Sonam Wangchuk

A general council member of the Ladakh Buddhist Association (LBA) has committed suicide by hanging himself at his residence, its president Chering Dorjay Lakruk said on Thursday. Stenzin Dorjay, a resident of Skitmang village, some 100 km from Leh town, was a big fan of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk who was detained under National Security Act and lodged in Jodhpur jail on September 26, Lakruk, also co-chairman of Leh Apex Body (LAB), told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. Survived by his wife and two children, Dorjay was found dead by hanging at his house early Wednesday. His brothers claimed that he was highly depressed after the September 24 violence that left four persons dead and scores of others injured. "He was a member of our general council and was linked to our movement (in support of statehood and safeguards under the sixth schedule of the Constitution). He was a big fan of Wangchuk, I know it because I saw him with Wangchuk on September 24," Lakruk said.

Tourism in Ladakh suffers as Leh remains under curfew following clashes

Ladakh's tourism sector, already reeling from setbacks earlier this season, has been dealt another blow with the curfew in Leh following last week's violence. Stakeholders said the industry was first hit by widespread cancellations after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, and the fresh disturbances have further dented travellers' confidence. An indefinite curfew was imposed in Leh town on September 24 following clashes during a shutdown called by a constituent of Leh Apex Body, which has been spearheading an agitation for statehood and the extension of Sixth Schedule to Ladakh. Four people were killed and over 150 others injured in the violence. Barring a four-hour relaxation in two phases on Saturday afternoon, the town remained under strict curfew for the sixth consecutive day on Monday with mobile internet services suspended. This has triggered booking cancellations and caused hardships to tourists and local stakeholders. "The cancellation of advance booki

Centre failed to honour its promises on statehood to J&K, Ladakh: Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has accused the Centre of betraying both Ladakh and J-K by failing to fulfil its promises and deepening mistrust through delays in restoring statehood. Speaking at the launch of senior journalist and author Harinder Baweja's latest book, "They Will Shoot You, Madam: My life through conflict" on Sunday, Abdullah said the government had failed to follow through on its own roadmap, first for Jammu and Kashmir and now for Ladakh, alleging that the latter was misled with "impossible" assurances. "When you wanted them (Ladakh) to participate in Hill Council elections, you promised them the Sixth Schedule. Everyone knew that giving the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh was nearly impossible. A region that shares frontiers with China on one side and Pakistan on the other requires a sizeable defence presence, which the Sixth Schedule makes impossible. Yet, you made promises to get electoral participation, he stated. The 55-year-old also criticised the ..

Sonam Wangchuk arrested under NSA, lodged in Jodhpur jail: Top updates

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested Friday under the National Security Act after violent Ladakh protests; the Union Territory administration has suspended mobile internet services in Leh

Sonam Wangchuk detained under NSA for 'provocative speeches': Ladakh admin

The Ladakh administration on Friday night justified the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), saying his series of alleged provocative speeches with references to Nepal agitation and the Arab Spring resulted in the Wednesday's violence that left four persons dead and scores of others injured. It said the detention of Wangchuk earlier during the day was important to restore normalcy in the peace-loving Leh town and also important to prevent him from further acting in a manner "prejudicial to maintenance of public order". "Today, on September 26, Wangchuk of Uley Tokpo village of Leh has been detained under NSA. Time and again it has been observed that Wangchuk has been indulging in activities prejudicial to the security of the state and detrimental to maintenance of peace and public order and services essential to the community," the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIPR), Ladakh said in a statement here. It said despite ..

Activist Sonam Wangchuk arrested by Leh police amid statehood protest

The Home Ministry has alleged that the Ladakh climate activist was responsible for inciting the unrest that claimed four lives and left over 90 injured

Trump levies 100% tariff on pharma, Sonam Wangchuk arrested, MiG 21 jets retire & more #newsin1min

US President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs on a range of products today, the highest being a 100% levy on imported branded and patented pharmaceuticals.

Centre cancels FCRA licence of Sonam Wangchuk's NGO amid Leh protest

The Home Ministry alleged account discrepancies, including a fund transfer from Sweden against "national interest", as the reason for cancellation

Ladakh unrest explained: What triggered the deadly Gen-Z protest in Leh?

Four people were killed and over 50 were injured after Ladakh’s statehood protests spiralled into violence in Leh on September 24.

CBI probing FCRA violation by activist Sonam Wangchuk's institution

The Central Bureau of Investigation has begun an inquiry into alleged violation of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act against an institution founded by Ladakh-based educationist and activist Sonam Wangchuk, officials said on Thursday. There has been an inquiry going on for some time but no FIR has been registered yet, they said. When contacted, Wangchuk told PTI that a CBI team came with "an order" about 10 days ago, saying that they are acting on a complaint from the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding alleged Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) violations in the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL). "The order said we have not taken clearance under FCRA to receive foreign funds. We don't want to be dependent on foreign funds, but we export our knowledge and raise revenue. In three such instances, they thought it was foreign contribution," Wangchuk claimed. He said a CBI team visited HIAL and the Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL

Ladakh protests: What led to the violent clashes that killed 4 in Leh

The protests followed a 15-day hunger strike over the statehood demand, led by environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk

4 killed in Ladakh as statehood protests turn violent, LG clamps curfew

Four killed; 45, including 22 police personnel, injured

Sonam Wangchuk, Leh Apex Body begin fast demanding Ladakh statehood

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the Leh Apex Body on Wednesday announced that they are starting a 35-day fast in Leh over their demands for Ladakh's inclusion under the Constitution's sixth schedule and statehood. At a press conference, which was preceded by an all-faith prayer service, Wangchuk, a climate activist, educator and Ramon Magsaysay awardee, said they took the decision to go on another fast from Wednesday as no meeting has been called by the Union home ministry with them over their demands in the last two months. Wangchuk said they are being forced to intensify the movement demanding statehood and protection under the sixth schedule of the Constitution for Ladakh as the Centre has not addressed their demands. "The talks with the Union government stopped around two months ago. Just as the talks were going to reach a point where discussions about the main demands were going to start, the government has not called another meeting," he said. Wangchuk said the Hill Counc

Delhi HC closes plea to permit activist Sonam Wangchuk, others to protest

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday closed the proceedings on a plea seeking permission for climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and others to hold a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar here. Petitioner Apex Body Leh's counsel said they no longer wished to press the plea as the protest stood withdrawn following a discussion with the authorities. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was representing Delhi Police, added that Wangchuk has also withdrawn his fast and, therefore, the petition might not survive. Wangchuk -- who had been sitting on an indefinite fast at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan since October 6 -- ended his fast on Monday evening after the home ministry assured him that the talks on Ladakh's demands will resume in December. In view of the statements of the parties, a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma said, "Petition is dismissed as withdrawn." Wangchuk and his associates from Ladakh had marched to the national capital to demand the inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth .

Elections alone don't make democracy, people's voice also matters: Wangchuk

Elections alone don't make a country a democracy, it becomes one only when the voice of the people is heard, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been sitting on a fast in Delhi for the last 14 days, said. Wangchuk, who led a padayatra from Leh to Delhi, was detained last month with several of his supporters and later released. Since then, he has been sitting on an indefinite fast at Ladakh Bhawan here with about two dozen of his supporters, demanding a meeting with the country's top leadership. There has been no communication from the government so far regarding any meeting. The activist, who has been subsisting on salt-water solution since October 6, also rued that his supporters were being stopped from meeting him by heavy barricading erected around the building, which got a separate identity after being split from Jammu and Kashmir Bhawan. Frail after days of fasting, Wangchuk spoke softly but minced no words. "As you can see, there are restrictions here (at Ladakh Bhawan

Ladakh's policies controlled by outsiders: AIKS extends support to Wangchuk

All India Kisan Sabha leaders on Wednesday met Sonam Wangchuk and other fasting activists, and extended support, saying Ladakh is being treated as a colony with "bureaucrats controlling policies in the ecologically sensitive region" from outside. The Left-affiliated farmers' body urged more people to join the protesters' cause and "rise against the Modi-Shah government that is dangerous to democracy". Climate activist Wangchuk and his supporters have been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike at Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan since October 6, demanding a meeting with the top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to discuss their demands. The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) later issued a statement, supporting Ladakh's demands for inclusion in the Sixth Schedule. "Since Jammu and Kashmir's statehood was dismantled, Ladakh has been treated like a colony, with outside bureaucrats controlling policies in the ecologically sensitive region. This has sparked massive protests, highlight

Wangchuk, 20 others detained for protesting outside Delhi's Ladakh Bhawan

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and 20 other protestors were detained by the Delhi Police for protesting outside the Ladakh Bhawan here on Sunday, officials said. Around 20 to 25 protesters, who were on fast with Wangchuk, were detained and taken to the Mandir Marg police station, they said. Heavy police deployment was arranged to maintain the law and order. Some of the protesters argued that they were not protesting, but sitting peacefully. A senior police officer said the protesters do not have any permission to sit outside the Ladakh Bhawan. "They have filed an application to hold protest at the Jantar Mantar. Their application is under consideration. They are not allowed to protest at any other site. We have detained a few people, who will be released soon," he said. Wangchuk, along with his supporters, marched to Delhi from Leh demanding Ladakh's inclusion in the sixth schedule of the Constitution. They were detained at the capital's Singhu border earlier on September 30 by