Political leaders on Saturday hailed the Centre’s decision to cancel the detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Law, even as the leadership in Ladakh urged the government to drop all charges against other detainees linked to the violent protests that rocked the union territory last year.
Wangchuk, who has been detained since September 26, 2025, was released from prison on Saturday, days before the Supreme Court was set to hear the petition filed by the activist’s wife challenging his detention on March 17.
The 59-year-old was taken into custody after protests over demands for Ladakh’s statehood and inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution turned violent, leaving four people dead and 45 others injured.
Ladakh Deputy Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena welcomed the decision to cancel Wangchuk’s arrest. However, Saxena, who was sworn in as LG on Friday, said there was “no space for agitation and violence” in the UT.
“His Excellency the Governor, Shri Vinay Kumar Saxena, welcomed the decision to cancel the detention of Mr. Sonam Wangchuk and said it is a positive step by the Center towards promoting an environment of peace, stability and mutual trust in #Ladakh. Shri Saxena emphasized that there is no room for incitement and violence in #Ladakh and all issues related to the aspirations and concerns of the people will be addressed through dialogue with various stakeholders, community leaders and citizens of #Ladakh,” the LG Ladakh office posted on X.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah praised the decision, saying: “First of all, Sonam Wangchuk should never have been arrested, and that too under the NSA. His release is good. We want the situation to remain peaceful in Ladakh…”
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said the Modi government should apologize to Wangchuk and the people of Ladakh for the arrest. He said in
Former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal has slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, saying the Wangchuk case mirrors the treatment meted out by his party’s top leadership in the alleged liquor scam in Delhi, claiming they have been in jail “for months and years” on trumped-up charges.
“The Modi government has been exposed once again. A scientist and climate activist who dedicated his life to the nation has been arrested without any evidence,” he said in a post on X.
Ladakh leaders praised the decision and demanded the release of the remaining detainees.
“We welcome the release of Sonam Wangchuk. But others must also be released, and the government must also take back the cases against the people who participated in the protests,” news agency PTI quoted Ladakh MP Mohammad Hanifa as saying.
Co-chairman of the Leh Apex Body (LAB), Tshering Dorjay Lakrok, noted that the charges against Wangchuk were “frivolous and fabricated and the government failed to prove them in the Supreme Court”.
“The government was going to lose this case, so in order to save face, they preempted this and abolished the NSA,” he said. “Today we are defending our rights. Now the label of ‘anti-patriotism’ placed on our movement has been removed, and our struggle for our rights will continue.”
Kargil Democratic Alliance member Sajjad Kargili demanded the immediate release of Dildan Namgyal and Sammanla Dorji and appealed to the government to unconditionally drop all charges against the other detainees. “The quashing of NSA against Shri Sonam Wangchuk is a welcome step. However, our fight for our legitimate rights continues. We also demand the immediate release of Dildan Namgyal and Sammanla Dorji and appeal for unconditional dropping of all charges against those detained on September 24. #Ladakh,” he wrote on X.
