Kargil leader decry Indian authorities’ silence on request to meet Sonam Wangchuk
Sajjad Kargili says authorities’ inaction reflects a “deeply disturbing state of affairs”
Kargil: Sajjad Kargili, a senior leader of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), has expressed serious concern over what he termed “complete silence” by Indian authorities on a request submitted by leaders from Ladakh region of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, seeking permission to meet detained activist Sonam Wangchuk in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur jail.
According to Kashmir Media Service, in a post on X, Sajjad Kargili said leaders from the Leh Apex Body (LAB) and the KDA, including Ladakh Member of Indian Parliament Mohammad Haneefa, have been repeatedly seeking permission to meet Wangchuk but have received no response so far.
“It has been over 20 days since a few members of the KDA and the LAB, including the MP from Ladakh, submitted a formal request seeking permission to meet Sonam Wangchuk, yet there has been complete silence from the authorities,” Kargili said.
He described the delay as “deliberate indifference” and termed it unacceptable.
Kargili, who is among the members holding talks with New Delhi over democratic rights for Ladakh, including demands of Sixth Schedule protections and statehood for the region, said, the authorities’ inaction reflects a “deeply disturbing state of affairs.”
Soanam Wangchuk, a Magsaysay Award-winning activist and educator, was detained under the the draconian National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, two days after protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh. The protests turned deadly when Indian forces opened fire, killing four people and injuring 90 others.
Wangchuk has been lodghed in Jodhpur jail in solitary confinement and has spent more than 110 days in detention.
