Opposition seeks Wangchuks launch; says govt. mishandled Ladakh disaster

Opposition events throughout the nation on Saturday (September 27, 2025) stepped up their criticism of the Union authorities’s dealing with of the continuing disaster in Ladakh and the detention of local weather activist Sonam Wangchuk beneath provisions of the National Security Act.

While Congress leaders known as the federal government’s dealing with of the state of affairs “pathetic” and demanded a judicial inquiry into the deaths of protesters on September 24, leaders of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha and the Aam Aadmi Party known as Mr. Wangchuk a “patriot”, and sought his launch.

Protests in Ladakh demanding Statehood and tribal standing beneath the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution turned violent on Wednesday (September 24, 2025), with at the least 4 protesters killed within the clashes with safety forces. The Ministry of Home Affairs accused Mr. Wangchuk, who had grow to be the face of the protests, of “insitgating” the protesters. Two days later, authorities detained him beneath the NSA.

On Saturday (September 27), Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge posted an announcement on social media saying his celebration “strongly condemns the pathetic dealing with of the state of affairs in Ladakh by the federal government and the following arrest of Sonam Wangchuk beneath the draconian National Security Act”. “At the guts of the disaster lies the BJP’s persistent betrayal of the aspirations of individuals of Ladakh,” he added.

‘Is he a terrorist?’

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress chief Ashok Gehlot, questioned why Mr. Wangchuk was transported to the high-security Central Jail in Jodhpur. “What has occurred impulsively that the stringent NSA was slapped on Mr. Wangchuk and he was shifted from Ladakh to far-off Jodhpur? Is he a terrorist? In truth, he has been a giant supporter of Modiji.”

Speaking to The Hindu, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) Central Committee member Tanuj Khatri known as Mr. Wangchuk’s detention a “blow to the soul of democracy”, and akin to assaulting the feelings of Ladakh’s individuals. In New Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party’s Political Affairs Committee member Durgesh Pathak echoed this sentiment, including that it mirrored the “dictatorial character of the Modi authorities”.

“He was among the many first to boost his voice in opposition to China’s aggression. Unfortunately, the Central authorities has sought to suppress that voice. Questioning border safety and Ladakh’s rights shouldn’t be against the law however an act within the nationwide curiosity,” Mr. Khatri stated.

An unkept promise

Mr. Kharge, within the assertion on X, stated, “For over a yr now, there was turmoil, and as a substitute of lending a affected person listening to to the cries of the individuals for inclusion beneath the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, Modi authorities is responding with violence. The BJP had pledged Sixth Schedule standing for the area, sadly that promise has been squarely deserted.”

Congress common secretary in-charge of communication Jairam Ramesh on Saturday additionally referred to the 2020 ballot promise of the BJP, saying that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes had really helpful Sixth Schedule standing to Ladakh in 2019, after the Union Ministries of Home Affairs, Tribal Affairs, and Law and Justice had given a “no objection to this”, whereas citing a report of The Hindu.

Mr. Ramesh stated, “Sonam Wangchuk was solely repeating this demand. But he now finds himself in jail with out bail. And we’re supposed to consider ourselves because the mom of democracy.”

Both Mr. Pathak and Mr. Khatri stated that the calls for of Ladakh’s individuals – that of Statehood and tribal standing by the use of inclusion within the Sixth Schedule – have been “rightful” and “totally democratic and justified”. Both the leaders stated that the NSA prices must be dropped and Mr. Wangchuk launched.

Mr. Kharge stated in his assertion: “The Indian National Congress seeks nothing however peace in Ladakh. For many years, we have now ensured that this lovely border area stays harmonious and safe, upholding each the spirit of democracy and the reason for nationwide safety… The democratic establishments and democracy should be revived and restored in Ladakh.”

Meanwhile, outdoors the Central Jail in Jodhpur, the place Mr. Wangchuk is at present detained, Vijay Pal, an activist from Churu district, staged a protest with the Tricolour and raised slogans supporting Mr. Wangchuk, earlier than he was taken by the police to the close by station for questioning.