Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 25: Even as the climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Thursday cautioned the Centre against his likely arrest allegedly for “instigating violence” in Ladakh capital city of Leh that left “several persons” killed in police firing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has begun an investigation into alleged violation of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act against an institution founded by Mr Wangchuk, who was earlier on a hunger strike and is pressing for statehood and extension of the Sixth Schedule to Ladakh.
According to officials, the probe agency began its inquiry into the funding of Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) two months ago. It is also reviewing Mr Wangchuk’s visit to Pakistan on February 6 this year, the officials added.
In August, the Ladakh administration had cancelled a land allotment to HIAL triggering a major controversy. Ladakhi groups fighting for statehood and constitutional protections called the decision an assault on the Union Territory and an attempt to silence those fighting for their rights. The latest developments coincide with accusations against Mr Wangchuk that he incited a mob that turned violent over the demand for statehood for Ladakh.
At least four people were killed and over 80 injured, including 40 police personnel, as clashes broke out between the security forces and supporters of the Ladakh movement amid a curfew in the district on Wednesday during an on-going protest seeking statehood and tribal status for the region bordering China. The Union Home Ministry, in a statement, said an unruly mob destroyed public property and attacked the police, injuring around 30 security personnel. The police had to resort to firing, in which “unfortunately some casualties are reported,” it said.
Ladakh Lieutenant-Governor Kavinder Gupta, in a televised address, confirmed the deaths but did not specify the number adding that curfew had been imposed as a precautionary measure. The Home Ministry had said the violence started at 11.30 a.m., and the situation was brought under control by 4 p.m. The strike was called as the demands of Statehood and Sixth Schedule status had not been met and talks with the Ministry not held for a long time.
Reacting to the MHA’s statement which had blamed him for provoking the mob violence on Wednesday, Mr Wangchuk on Thursday said his imprisonment could create more problems for the government than his freedom and called the Home Ministry’s act of blaming him for the violent protests in Ladakh a “scapegoat tactic.” He, however, said he was prepared to be arrested under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA).
“I see they are building up a case to bring me under the Public Safety Act and throw me in jail for two years,” he said and added that “I am ready for that, but Sonam Wangchuk in jail may cause them more problems than free Sonam Wangchuk.” The climate activist also said, “To say it (the violence) was instigated by me, or sometimes by Congress, is to find a scapegoat, rather than addressing the core of the problem, and this will lead us nowhere.”
The MHA statement came even as Mr Wangchuk withdrew his fortnight-long hunger strike over the demands. The Leh Apex Body youth wing called for the protest after two of the 15 people, who were on the strike, were shifted to a hospital because their condition deteriorated on Tuesday evening.
Groups of youths, indulging in arson and vandalism, targeted the headquarters of the BJP and the Hill Council and set ablaze vehicles. Police and paramilitary forces, deployed in strength across the town, lobbed teargas shells to bring the situation under control, the officials said.
The Centre alleged that the mob violence was guided by the “provocative statements” of activist Wangchuk, and certain “politically motivated” individuals were not happy with the progress made in the ongoing talks between the representatives of the government and Ladakhi groups.
“The demands on which Mr Wangchuk was on hunger strike are integral part of the discussion in HPC. In spite of many leaders urging to call off the hunger strike, he continued with the hunger strike and misleading the people through provocative mention of Arab Spring-style protest and references to Gen Z protests in Nepal,” the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.
“It is well known that the Government of India has been actively engaged with the Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance. Series of meetings were held with them through formal channel of High Powered Committee (HPC) as well as sub-committee and multiple informal meetings with leaders. However, certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress made under HPC and have been trying to sabotage the dialogue process,” it added. Congress leader and councillor Phuntsog Stanzin Tsepag was also charged for allegedly making a provocative speech at the hunger strike venue on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday blamed the BJP for the violent protests in Ladakh, alleging that the ruling party’s “breach of promise” on statehood and restoration of powers to the region had triggered anger among people.
“The BJP had assured the leaders, council members and representatives of Ladakh that statehood and powers would be restored. Profiteering is not the only form of corruption, breaking promises is also corruption. The breach of promise by the BJP is the reason their office was set ablaze,” Yadav told reporters. He said video recordings and speeches show clear assurances made by the BJP to the people of Ladakh.
“Since Ladakh is a sensitive border State, the government should have honoured the demands of its people. Only then can peace and prosperity come to the region,” he said. “This is the same state where Chinese troops intruded only a few days ago. To secure such borders, the government must listen to the demands of border states and allocate more budget for their development,” he pointed out.
