India

Wangchuk Urges President Murmu to Intervene Amid Alleged Ladakh Administration Smear Campaign

By PTI

Climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk appealed to President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday, requesting urgent intervention in Ladakh. He said the Lieutenant Governor‑led administration was running a targeted smear and defamation campaign against him and other critics in the Union Territory. The appeal follows a series of administrative actions involving institutions linked to Wangchuk, including the August 2025 cancellation of the land lease for the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL) in Leh. The lease was cancelled because the institute allegedly failed to execute the deed, pay the required premium on time, and comply with the land’s intended use. The administration also directed HIAL to stop further activities related to its Desert Flower School. Separately, a labour court in Leh reserved its order in a case involving allegations of non‑payment of statutory maternity benefits and unfair treatment of a former HIAL employee. Wangchuk and his wife, Gitanjali J Angmo, co‑founder and CEO of HIAL, blame bureaucratic hurdles for the delay in finalising the land deal and claim the cancellation is part of a politically motivated witch‑hunt tied to the campaign for Sixth Schedule safeguards and statehood for Ladakh. In a video message posted on X, Wangchuk released excerpts of a “sting operation” conducted by his lawyers. He alleged that a creative agency linked to two social media pages, ‘Ladakh Lens’ and ‘Ladakh Vision’, was involved in targeting him and promoting the work of Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena. The pages appeared on October 14, a day after Saxena made remarks about Wangchuk at the India Today Conclave in Mumbai on October 13. Wangchuk said the pages were created by the same agency and that their similar appearance and timing prompted his lawyers to investigate. The video includes excerpts of a conversation between the lawyers and the agency’s alleged owner, who speaks of possible links with the LG’s team, offers to facilitate contacts in Ladakh, and refers to a Pune‑based company handling the work. Wangchuk alleged the conversation indicated LG administration involvement in orchestrating online campaigns against critics and that national resources were being used to discredit Ladakhi leaders. In his appeal, he raised broader concerns about governance in Ladakh, alleging restrictions on democratic rights and freedom of expression under the LG administration. He claimed that even social media comments and likes had led to FIRs and arrests. He questioned several administrative policies, saying land, industrial, power and tourism policies favored corporate interests at the expense of local communities. He also criticised the liquor policy, claiming the administration was facilitating the establishment of liquor outlets in villages by reducing the number of mandatory No Objection Certificates from 16 to six. Wangchuk said institutions associated with him were facing administrative harassment. He had initially shared the sting‑operation material with a senior official in the Union Home Ministry, seeking intervention, but communication stopped after a few exchanges. He was reluctant to make the material public out of concern that it could affect the country’s dignity and morale. He released only selected excerpts of the purported sting operation, withholding further material from the Lok Niwas for now. Wangchuk urged President Murmu to ensure equal rights, democratic freedoms and justice for residents of border regions, including Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. There was no immediate reaction from the LG’s office to the allegations.