National Desk/ Leh , Ladakh
26 September
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
Journalist and Reserch Analysist
Environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest has sparked a wave of anger and criticism, especially from his wife, Geetanjali Angmo. Expressing her deep disappointment, Angmo said her husband was treated like a criminal without any valid reason. Wangchuk was arrested from his village Ulyaktopo, two days after violent protests in Leh left four people dead and 59 others injured.
The arrest was carried out by a police team led by Ladakh DGP S.D. Singh Jamwal. According to the Home Ministry, Wangchuk was accused of giving “provocative statements” that allegedly triggered Wednesday’s violence. However, Wangchuk has strongly denied these allegations.
Geetanjali Angmo, who is also the co-founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), openly condemned her husband’s detention. She accused the government of building a “false narrative” to damage his reputation. Angmo further alleged that police vandalized their home during the arrest and claimed that her husband was being wrongly projected as “anti-national.”
Calling it the “worst face of democracy,” Angmo said that her husband was taken away like a criminal, without trial or just cause. She questioned why the government was trying to ruin the image of a man who has peacefully fought for Ladakh’s rights for more than five years.
Highlighting Wangchuk’s contributions, Angmo reminded that he has brought honor to India through international recognition, including the Rolex Awards, and has worked tirelessly in areas like farming, environment, and education. She said it was shameful that someone with such achievements was being targeted and framed with baseless accusations.
Angmo did not hold back from criticizing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She accused the party of hypocrisy, saying it should stop calling itself Hindu because Hinduism stands on truth, not falsehood. Identifying herself as a practicing Hindu and a teacher of the Vedas and Vedanta under the inspiration of Sri Aurobindo, Angmo argued that the BJP’s ideology was rooted in lies. “This is not the India Sri Aurobindo dreamed of, nor the Hinduism spoken of in the Vedas,” she said.
She went on to challenge the government to defend its accusations openly. Angmo invited officials to a live, prime-time television debate on all charges against her husband, including issues related to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and CBI investigations. She stressed that the people of India deserve the truth and should not be misled by false stories spread against her husband.
Her remarks carried both anger and frustration as she appealed for fairness and transparency. Angmo warned against using state machinery to silence a single man, saying this was a misuse of power. She reiterated that targeting intellectuals, researchers, and peaceful activists could harm the country’s democratic fabric and international image.
In her closing words, Angmo said the BJP’s actions were based on lies and went against the very spirit of India’s heritage. She urged the nation to recognize the injustice being done to Sonam Wangchuk, who has been a symbol of peace, innovation, and service to the community.
The specific charges against Wangchuk remain unclear, but his arrest continues to raise questions about freedom of expression, democratic rights, and the treatment of dissenting voices in Ladakh and across India.