“Your Arrogance Will Be Broken”: Rahul Gandhi on Delhi Police Detains Sonam Wangchuk, Supporters

Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a prominent Congress figure, condemned the recent detention of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and hundreds of peaceful protestors from Ladakh. Gandhi described the police action as “unacceptable,” questioning why elderly citizens were being held at Delhi’s borders for advocating the region’s future.

In a statement, Gandhi drew parallels to the farmers’ protests, asserting, “Modi ji, like with the farmers, this ‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice.”

The incident occurred on Monday night at the Singhu border, where Delhi Police detained Wangchuk and around 150 supporters, citing the enforcement of Section 163 of the BNS. Wangchuk shared updates on X, stating, “I AM BEING DETAINED… along with 150 padyatris at Delhi Border, by a police force of hundreds, some say 1,000. Many elderly men & women in their 80s and a few dozen Army veterans… Our fate is unknown. We were on a most peaceful march to Bapu’s Samadhi… in the largest democracy in the world.”

The foot march began in Leh on September 1, with participants calling for the central government to engage in dialogue with Ladakhi leaders. Their key demand is for Ladakh to be included under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which would empower local populations to safeguard their land and cultural identity.

Wangchuk emphasised that the march aimed to remind the government of its promises made five years ago, stating, “We are on a mission to remind the government to fulfil the promise it made to us.” This march follows a nine-day fast he undertook in Leh, aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need for ecological protection and the rights of Ladakh’s indigenous communities.

The region became a Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which divided Jammu and Kashmir into two separate territories.