File photo of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. | Photo credit: PTI
The Center administration and the Union Territory of Ladakh have accused detained climate activist Sonam Wangchuk of using the veneer of Gandhian non-violence to mask the real incitement of younger and impressionable generations to turn to violence.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing before a court headed by Justice Aravind Kumar, argued that Mr. Wangchuk’s incitement even touched on “self-immolation” and non-cooperation in the case of external aggression. The solicitor general said the region is located along a border with a country with which India has “fragile” relations.
Mr. Mehta said Mr. Wangchuk actively tried to incite Gen Z by referring to protests like those in Nepal and Bangladesh. He recalled the possibility of agitation similar to the Arab Spring.
“He carefully prepared his speech to galvanize Gen Z and asked for agitations like in Nepal and Bangladesh and used Mahatma Gandhi’s speeches to cover the real intention,” Mr Mehta said.
“No Them Against Us”
He said Mr. Wangchuk referred to the Union government as “them” and singled out the people of Ladakh as “us” and called for a “plebiscite” and “referendum”, calls that were once made in Jammu and Kashmir.
“There is no ‘them’ or ‘us’. We are all Indians. Ladakh is a place that shares borders with two countries – China and Pakistan… The area is very fragile. His speeches have to be considered as a whole. He misled the youth and carefully used the speeches of Mahatma Gandhi to cover it up. Gandhiji opposed their own government.
He said that Ladakh is crucial for the supply chain for the security forces guarding the border.
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by Gitanjali Angmo against his detention under the stringent National Security Act (NSA). The NSA empowers the Center and states to detain individuals to prevent them from acting in a manner “prejudicial to India’s defence”.
Mr. Wangchuk was detained under NSA provisions on September 26 last year, two days after violent protests demanding statehood and Sixth Plan status for Ladakh left four dead and 90 injured in the Union Territory.
Published – 02 Feb 2026 20:13 IST