Recording his statement before the three-member Advisory Board constituted by the Ladakh administration, climate activist Sonam Wangchuk maintained that he was “illegally” detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and his speeches were torn out of context to put him behind bars.
The Board, headed by Justice MK Hanjura (Retired) of the J&K High Court, on Friday met Wangchuk in the Jodhpur Central Jail and held a hearing of the case.
Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjali J Angmo, who was present during the hearing in the jail, on Sunday wrote on X that; “He (Wangchuk) made his representation of how he was illegally detained under the NSA based on his words, statements and ideas taken out of context from his videos, how the translator has deliberately paraphrased his statements wrongly and how random and independent skirmishes between CRPF, Ladakh police, and random individuals have been ascribed to Wangchuk”.
“This is a travesty of justice and a mockery of Indian democracy. But he stays unfazed and conveys to everyone that Insaaf ke ghar der hai par andher nahi, firmly reiterating that Satyameva Jayate, Truth Shall Prevail. And expresses his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who is supporting us and standing in solidarity with us the world over!”, she wrote.
A day before the hearing by the Board, Angmo wrote on X; “The advisory Board that would hear @Wangchuk66’s representation tomorrow at Jodhpur Central Jail comprises Hon’ble Mr Justice M.K. Hanjura (Retd.) Judge, High Court J&K and Ladakh as Chairman, Mr Manoj Parihar, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Leh and Ms Spalzes Angmo, Principal District and Sessions Judge, Kargil. I will be present at the proceedings as Sonam Wangchuk’s ‘friend’ that the law allows. I have full trust in the advisory board to stand for truth and justice!!”
Angmo had earlier, in a post on X, said that “the Pakistan narrative about Sonam Wangchuk is false and defamatory. We were invited to a UN climate conference where he praised Mr (Narendra) Modi for initiatives like Simply Life”.
Meanwhile, reiterating the demand for the immediate release of Wangchuk, who has completed one month in jail today, several Ladakhi leaders and individuals have taken to social media condemning his “illegal detention”.
A prominent member of the Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), Sajjad Kargili, wrote on X, “One month has passed since prominent climate activist and member of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) Sonam Wangchuk was jailed under the draconian NSA on baseless charges. Such actions only deepen mistrust and hurt the democratic spirit of Ladakh”.
“We reiterate our demand for his immediate release and restoration of democratic rights”, he added.