Protest Erupts Over Detention of Climate Activist Sonam Wangchuk

AAP supporters protested against Lt Governor V K Saxena when Delhi CM Atishi was prevented from meeting detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. Atishi demanded full statehood for Delhi and Ladakh, accusing the BJP of dictatorship. Wangchuk was stopped at the Singhu border during a march for Ladakh's rights and detained by police.

AAP supporters launched a protest here against Lt Governor V K Saxena after Delhi Chief Minister Atishi was stopped from meeting climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, detained at the Bawana police station.

Atishi charged that the Delhi LG prevented the meeting. She insisted that it is time to end the 'LG rule' in both Delhi and Ladakh and demanded full statehood for both union territories.

No immediate reaction was obtained from the LG's office regarding the allegations.

Wangchuk and around 150 people from Ladakh, marching to Delhi to demand Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, were detained at the Singhu border on Monday night.

Delhi Police bolstered security around the Bawana police station where Wangchuk is held.

After being denied permission to meet Wangchuk, CM Atishi criticized the BJP and the Lt Governor, accusing them of dictatorship.

"I reached Bawana Police Station to meet Sonam Wangchuk Ji and 150 brothers and sisters of Ladakh. Delhi police did not let me meet them. We were told that LG sahab called and ordered not to let me meet them. This dictatorship is not right," Atishi wrote on X.

Scores of AAP supporters protested outside the Bawana police station against Delhi LG.

"The people of Delhi stand with the people of Ladakh. The LG rule should end in Ladakh. Also, the LG rule should end in Delhi. Ladakh and Delhi should get the status of a full state," the chief minister stated.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal also objected to Wangchuk's detention, saying, "Delhi is not any single person's inheritance; everyone has the right to come here. Sometimes farmers are stopped from entering Delhi, sometimes Ladakhis are stopped. Is Delhi someone's personal property? Delhi is the nation's capital, and everyone has the right to come here. This is completely wrong.

He questioned, "Why are they so afraid of unarmed, peaceful people?"

Wangchuk and several associates have gone on an indefinite fast at the police stations where they are detained.

According to police sources, a team of doctors examined all detainees.

The Delhi chief minister highlighted Wangchuk's credentials as a well-known environmentalist who was raising the voice of Ladakh's people in Delhi and accused the BJP-led central government of detaining him, calling it "extremely disappointing" and anti-democratic.

Manish Sisodia, an Aam Aadmi Party leader, questioned, "Is Sonam Wangchuk a terrorist? Why does the central government want to stop them from entering Delhi?" He alleged that the BJP aims to turn every state into a union territory and imprison those who oppose them.

(With inputs from agencies.)