A day after his Ladakh statehood agitation turned violent, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday cracked down on climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, cancelling the FCRA licence of his non-profit NGO – Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh.
In its order, the government cited ‘repeated’ violations of the law-governing foreign funding for such non- profit organisations.
The MHA order stated that Wangchuk’s NGO was found to be in violation of provisions under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, 2010.
It further noted that the NGO was served a show-cause notice on August 20, 2025, but the response submitted by the organisation on September 19, 2025 failed to satisfactorily explain the irregularities.
Citing one particular instance, the MHA said that Wangchuk had submitted an amount of Rs 3.5 lakh into the FCRA account of the NGO during FY 2021-22.
In response, Wangchuk had mentioned that the amount was sale proceeds of an old bus procured in 2015 out of the FCRA’s fund.
However, the ministry said that it found in its investigation that the sum was received as a foreign donation.
The government action against Wangchuk, a respected climate activist, came hours after 4 people were killed in police firing on Ladakh statehood protesters in Leh.
The protest turned violent after two of the protesters who were sitting on a hunger strike with Mr Wangchuk fell sick. Angered by this, people started gathering outside the hospital, shouting slogans against the BJP.
Later, a mob of angry protesters torched a local BJP office, prompting police to open fire. More than 70 others, including security personnel, were also injured in the clashes between police and protesters.
After the violence, the government pinned blame on climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who led a 35-day hunger strike in Leh as part of the statehood campaign.
The ministry claimed that the mob was guided by Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements.