Fresh out of jail, Sonam Wangchuk calls for mutual flexibility between the government and Ladakh protesters. He stresses dialogue over confrontation, saying meaningful solutions need cooperation from both sides.
Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, after being released from jail, has spoken about his experience and the reasons behind his detention. In his first public remarks on March 17, 2026, he said that he wants proper judicial closure of his case and believes that “linguistic misunderstandings” may have played a role in his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) for 170 days.
Wangchuk was released on March 14, 2026, from Jodhpur Central Jail after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) revoked the NSA order. This step was taken using administrative powers that are not commonly used. Despite his release, he expressed hope that the Supreme Court will still deliver its judgment in the matter.
According to him, such a judgment would help guide authorities in the future on the correct use of laws like the NSA. He said the ruling should help policymakers understand
“so that it guides future executives and policymakers on how to use and especially how not to use such laws (NSA).”
The background of the case goes back to September 24, 2025, when violence broke out in Leh during protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The incident led to the death of four people.
Following this, Wangchuk was detained under the NSA, which allows authorities to keep a person in custody without trial for up to one year. His wife, Gitanjali J. Angmo, challenged this detention before the Supreme Court. Interestingly, he was released just days before the apex court was expected to deliver its verdict.
Wangchuk clarified that the Central government did not impose any conditions on his release. He also stated that even if such conditions had been imposed, he was mentally prepared to remain in jail for a longer period. He said,
“My movement was not for myself. It was to preserve the culture and environment of Ladakh. If they do not honour that, then our struggle will continue.”
He further described the circumstances of his arrest, alleging that he was “bundled and thrown into jail” and was denied communication with his family and legal team for nearly a week. He appreciated the efforts of his wife and his legal team, led by senior advocate Vivek Tankha, for strongly defending his case in court.
Speaking about the ongoing demands for Ladakh, Wangchuk emphasized the need for dialogue and cooperation between the government and the people. He said,
“Talks are a give-and-take process; both sides have to be flexible and considerate,”
and warned that unnecessary delays could affect meaningful discussions.
He also made it clear that protests were not his first choice. According to him,
“I never wanted to do agitations; (I) was forced to protest. We don’t want to (protest). We should join hands and set an example.”
Raising concerns about the treatment of protesters, he claimed that even individuals who went to donate blood were detained, and that two people are still in jail. Reflecting on the reasons behind his detention, he stated,
“Misunderstandings crept into the hierarchy and led them to believe that I was in the wrong. Linguistic misunderstandings led to the grounds of detention.”
This case has once again brought attention to the use of preventive detention laws like the NSA and has raised important questions about civil liberties, administrative decisions, and the need for judicial oversight in such matters.
Click Here to Read Our Reports on Uttam Nagar
