India turns Ladakh into a nightmare for sane voices under BJP’s Hindutva rule
Leh: The arrest of Ladakh’s most respected voice, engineer and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk, under the draconian National Security Act (NSA) has sparked outrage across India, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slamming the BJP regime for treating defenders of land, rights and environment as “threats to national security.”
According to Kashmir Media Service, Sonam Wangchuk, known globally for his eco-friendly innovations and advocacy for Ladakh’s rights, was rounded up days after Indian forces shot dead four protesters and injured over 90 in Leh on September 24. He has now been lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail, with authorities accusing him of “inciting violence” and linking him to Pakistan—allegations dismissed outright by his wife, Gitanjali Angmo, who termed the charges “baseless” and blamed CRPF’s brutal actions for the escalation.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, said the Modi government’s action revealed the reality of Hindutva politics. “Ladakh’s amazing people, culture, and traditions are under attack by the BJP and RSS. Ladakhis asked for a voice. The BJP responded by killing 4 young men and jailing Sonam Wangchuk. Stop the killing. Stop the violence. Stop the intimidation. Give Ladakh a voice. Give them the 6th Schedule,” he posted on X.
Observers note that in Modi’s India, speaking the truth is equated with sedition and demanding rights is met with imprisonment. While innovators like Wangchuk are jailed, real extremists roam free. From eco-activist to “enemy of India,” Wangchuk’s case has exposed the saffronisation of India’s justice system.
Political analysts stressed that such tactics are not new. Leaders from Kashmir valley like Masarrat Aalam Butt, Yasin Malik and Aasia Andrabi have been kept behind bars for years under fabricated cases. “The unfolding of Wangchuk’s case only reinforces India’s pattern of silencing sane voices by painting them as terrorists,” one analyst remarked.
