Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, has strongly refuted the Ladakh Police’s claim that the activist was in contact with a Pakistani intelligence operative.
She alleged that a “fabricated” narrative is being constructed to malign Wangchuk’s image with an aim to discredit his statehood movement for Ladakh and constitutional protections.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Gitanjali said,“This is absolutely wrong and false. We condemn. A narrative is being formed to frame someone. When the UT government was buying Chinese tablets, he (Wangchuk) was talking about tackling China not with bullets but with a wallet. How can such a person be anti-national?”
She explained that the conference Wangchuk attended earlier this year was on climate change and organised jointly by the United Nations and Pakistani media group Dawn, saying, “If India plays cricket with China, will the players and cricket boards be called anti-national? This was a conference on glaciers that provide water to countries from Bangladesh to Afghanistan. If someone participates in such a conference, does that make them an ISI agent? What is the evidence behind this claim?”
‘Responding to DGP Ladakh’s remarks labelling Wangchuk as “anti-national,” Gitanjali pointed out that the same government had previously honoured him for his pioneering environmental work, including solar-heated buildings and Ice Stupas.
Wangchuk was arrested on Friday afternoon under the National Security Act (NSA) and shifted to Jodhpur from Ladakh. The government has accused Wangchuk of “instigating the violence. The action against the climate activist followed the September 24 violence in the capital Leh during which four people were killed and over 70 others injured.
Categorically rejecting the allegations levelled against Wangchuk by the Ladakh DGP Jamwal, including him being in touch with Pakistani elements, she said, “We strongly condemn the DGP’s statements. Not only I, but everyone in Ladakh denounces those allegations. This narrative is being fabricated to blame and frame someone, allowing them to do whatever they want.”
Ladakh DGP Jamwal, in a press conference, claimed that police had arrested a Pakistani PIO who was allegedly in touch with Wangchuk.
“We arrested a Pakistan PIO in the recent past who was reporting back across. We have a record of this. He (Sonam Wangchuk) had attended a Dawn event in Pakistan. He also visited Bangladesh. So, there is a big question mark on him… Investigation is being done,” Jamwal said.
She said that Sonam only advocated for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule, which is vital for democracy in the Union Territory.
Angmo said the movement has been going on for the past five years, and all such protests have been carried out in a peaceful and Gandhian way.
Describing the violence in Leh as “very unfortunate,” Gitanjali questioned the security forces’ action of opening fire at protesters.
“Who gave the CRPF orders to open fire? Who shoots at their own people, their own citizens? Especially in a region that has never witnessed violent demonstrations,” she asked.
Gitanjali further alleged that the police were acting with a political agenda.
“Whatever the DGP is saying, he has an agenda. They don’t want to implement the Sixth Schedule under any circumstances and want to make someone a scapegoat,” she claimed.