In the Supreme Court on Monday, the Central government and the Union Territory of Ladakh administration alleged that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk attempted to incite Gen Z with the aim of triggering protests similar to those witnessed in Nepal and Bangladesh. This assertion was made during a hearing regarding the detention of Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA).
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, informed a bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and P V Varale that Wangchuk strategically crafted his speeches to provoke younger generations, drawing parallels with agitations in Nepal and Bangladesh, and even referencing "Arab Spring" style uprisings that led to government overthrows in several Arab nations. Mehta argued that Wangchuk cloaked his true intentions by using speeches of Mahatma Gandhi.
The NSA empowers both the Central and state governments to detain individuals to prevent actions deemed prejudicial to the defense of India. While the maximum detention period is 12 months, it can be revoked earlier.
Mehta contended that Wangchuk employed divisive language, distinguishing between "them" (the central government) and "us" (the people of Ladakh), further calling for a "plebiscite" and "referendum" reminiscent of calls previously made in Jammu and Kashmir. He asserted that Ladakh shares borders with China and Pakistan, making it a fragile region where there is no "them or us" because "we are all Indians". He also added that Ladakh is important for the supply chain for the security forces guarding the borders.
The Solicitor General argued that Wangchuk's speeches should be considered in their entirety, asserting that he misled young people while deceptively using Mahatma Gandhi's speeches. Mehta emphasized that Gandhi never incited people against their own government. He said that the district magistrate had to pass the order for his preventive detention after going through the relevant facts.
Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had also blamed Sonam Wangchuk for violent protests in Leh. The MHA accused Wangchuk of instigating the mob, despite repeated appeals to end his hunger strike. The ministry stated that Wangchuk misled people through provocative mentions of Arab Spring-style protests and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal, escalating unrest in the sensitive border region.
Conversely, Sonam Wangchuk, known as an environmentalist and innovator, has faced scrutiny regarding irregularities in his projects, including the use of non-biodegradable materials in his ice stupa projects, which reportedly damaged the environment.