New Delhi: Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh tore into the Narendra Modi government over the arrest of Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been peacefully demanding full statehood for Ladakh-Kargil along with rights to education, health and employment.
The senior AAP leader emphasised that Sonam Wangchuk is a true patriot dedicated to the people of Ladakh, while the Modi government has shown its “dictatorial” character by arresting him under the National Security Act. He added that such an act is a symbol of dictatorship and Hitler-style governance, warning that stopping Ladakh’s people from protesting will only spark a major public uprising.
In a video message, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh stated, “On Friday, Sonam Wangchuk was arrested. He has been working to educate children who are considered failures, children whom our system never empowers. Sonam Wangchuk has dedicated his entire life to these children. He is the same person who, for the past five years, has been consistently demanding from the government that the people of Ladakh be given their rights under the Sixth Schedule.”
The AAP MP elaborated, “His demands include education, employment, land, health, and granting full statehood to Ladakh-Kargil, among others. Today, such a true patriot and Gandhian leader has been arrested, and the National Security Act (NSA) has been imposed on him.”
Highlighting his peaceful protest, Sanjay Singh said, “Sonam Wangchuk’s only so-called crime is that he had been on a hunger strike for the last 15–20 days. He walked on a padyatra from Ladakh to Delhi and repeatedly folded his hands to request Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Was his crime that he was demanding full statehood for the people of Ladakh?”
Criticising the government’s actions, he added, “By arresting Sonam Wangchuk today, the Narendra Modi government has set an example of dictatorship and Hitler-style governance. It is true that people’s patience had broken, they had been protesting for a long time, and the agitation had taken a violent turn. But Sonam Wangchuk never encouraged violence.”
“In fact, he was the first to come forward and appeal with folded hands for peace. He told the people that violence is not our path, broke his own hunger strike, and urged everyone that we must achieve our rights through peace. And yet, the Narendra Modi government is calling such a person an ‘anti-national,’” he pointed out.
Warning PM Modi, Sanjay Singh said, “PM Modi must not make this mistake. Ladakh is a region bordering China, and its people are true patriots. They have always stood with the nation. The people of Leh, Ladakh and Kargil have consistently opposed Chinese incursions and spoken out openly against China. They have always stood with the Indian Army and the Government of India. To call Sonam Wangchuk ‘anti-national’ and impose the NSA on him is deeply unfortunate. The Aam Aadmi Party stands firmly with Sonam Wangchuk, the people of Ladakh, and their demands.”