Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, currently detained in Jodhpur Central Jail, has denied allegations in the Supreme Court that he made statements advocating for the overthrow of the government, similar to the Arab Spring uprisings. Wangchuk asserted his democratic right to criticize and protest.
The allegations against Wangchuk stem from his detention on September 26, 2025, under the National Security Act (NSA). The NSA empowers the government to act preventively against individuals perceived as threats to public order or national security. Wangchuk's detention occurred two days after violent protests erupted in Ladakh, where demonstrators demanded statehood and the implementation of the Sixth Schedule, resulting in fatalities and injuries. The government accused him of inciting the violence.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Wangchuk's lawyer, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, argued before Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale that the police selectively used video footage to mislead the detaining authority. Sibal refuted claims that Wangchuk had threatened to incite an "Arab Spring" style overthrow if statehood was not granted to Ladakh. He stated that Wangchuk never made such a statement and offered to provide the court with a full transcription of the video. The "Arab Spring" refers to a series of pro-democracy uprisings that spread across the Middle East and North Africa between 2010 and 2018.
Sibal also contested the claim that Wangchuk had said the people of Ladakh would not support the Indian Army in times of war if the government did not provide assistance. He presented a link to the complete video, which he claimed showed Wangchuk praising the army. Sibal emphasized that the detaining authority had been misled by selective extraction of portions of videos. He argued that any material relied upon for detention must have a direct and clear connection to the detention order and that irrelevant information was used in this case. Sibal also pointed out that when a detaining authority relies on a statement, the entire statement must be considered, not just isolated sentences.
Furthermore, Sibal stated that Wangchuk's speech was an appeal for peace, which was illegally suppressed from the detaining authority. He asserted that Wangchuk's movement has been peaceful, "not through violence, stones or arrows". Sibal added that Wangchuk spoke of a peaceful revolution to bring about change without troubling others and that he did not threaten the security of the State, propagate violence, or indicate any intent to continue prejudicial activities. Sibal argued that Wangchuk's message promoted national unity and integrity, which contradicted the grounds for his detention.
The next hearing regarding Sonam Wangchuk's detention is scheduled for Monday. The Supreme Court will continue to examine the evidence and arguments presented to determine whether his detention under the NSA is justified. The court has also been assured that Wangchuk will receive any necessary medical treatment while detained.
