The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) license of the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), an NGO founded by climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The order to cancel the FCRA registration certificate was issued with immediate effect.

This action by the government comes a day after violent protests erupted in Leh over demands for statehood for Ladakh. During the protests, mobs engaged in arson and clashes that resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries. The Centre has blamed Wangchuk for inciting the violence through his "provocative statements," alleging that he incited a mob to attack BJP and government offices. Wangchuk has dismissed these allegations, calling them a "scapegoat tactic" to avoid addressing the core issues of the region.

The MHA's decision to cancel SECMOL's FCRA license was based on the findings of a CBI inquiry, which revealed several violations of the FCRA. The ministry stated that SECMOL had contravened Sections 8, 12, 17, 18, and 19 of the FCRA.

Specifically, the MHA cited the following violations:

• Irregular Deposits: During the financial year 2021-22, Sonam Wangchuk allegedly deposited ₹3.35 lakh into SECMOL's FCRA account, violating Section 17 of the FCRA. SECMOL argued that this sum was from the sale of an old bus purchased with FCRA funds. However, the ministry dismissed this explanation, citing discrepancies between the transaction details in SECMOL's returns and the actual bank credits.
• Local Funds in FCRA Account: In the financial year 2020-21, local contributions amounting to ₹54,600 from three individuals were deposited into the FCRA account instead of the local account. SECMOL admitted that this was an error made by volunteers. The ministry deemed this a violation of Section 17.
• Violation of Section 12(4): SECMOL allegedly received ₹4.93 lakh from foreign donors in violation of section 12(4) of the Act.
• Funding for Sovereignty Studies: The NGO admitted that funds were used for "study on sovereignty of the country, including some other topics and the fund had also been spent in line with the objectives of the foreign donors", which the MHA stated was "against the national interest of the country".
• Returning Donations: The MHA considered SECMOL's returning ₹19,600 to a donor as a violation, stating it was "likely to use the foreign contribution for personal gain or divert it for undesirable purpose".

Based on these violations, the MHA cancelled SECMOL's FCRA registration certificate. The cancellation prevents the NGO from receiving foreign funds.