Statehood crusade never anti-national, Ladakh groups say after Wangchuk’s release

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SRINAGAR: The Centre’s decision to revoke National Security Act (NSA) against climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and release him removes the “anti-national” stigma from Ladakh people’s struggle for statehood and Sixth Schedule status, Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) said Saturday.The region’s two key politico-religious groups called the move, however, an “incomplete” step and claimed the relief for Wangchuk, an LAB member, was given as the Centre had failed to prove in Supreme Court that he was involved in anti-national acts. “We welcome this order. But the govt was losing this case in the apex court. That is why they took this decision,” LAB co-chairman Chering Dorjay Lakrook said.Supreme Court has been hearing a petition by Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali Angmo challenging his detention since Sept 26, 2025, two days after violence erupted during protests in Leh over statehood and Sixth Schedule status.

The court will take up the case again on Tuesday. Four people died and over 80 were injured in alleged police firing on protesters.“Govt accused our movement of being anti-national. Previous LG (Kavinder Gupta) also talked on the same lines. We have been vindicated by this order (NSA revocation) that there was nothing anti-national in our struggle,” Lakrook said. He announced, however, that a March 16 rally in Ladakh against the detention and alleged delay in talks with the Centre would go on as planned. Asgar Ali Karbalai, co-chairman of KDA, called Wangchuk’s release a step forward but an “incomplete” one. “There are still 80 people against whom cases were filed after the Sept 24 protests,” Karbalai said.Vinai Kumar Saxena, new Ladakh LG who took charge two days ago, called Wangchuk’s release a positive step but cautioned that there is “no space for agitation , bandhs, or violence in Ladakh”.J&K Congress spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said the Centre had to bow before the spirit of law and public pressure in revoking Wangchuk’s “illegal” detention.(Inputs from Sanjay Khajuria in Jammu)