**Wangchuk’s Wife Defends Him, Blames Security Forces for Violence**
*By Snehil Singh | Sep 28, 2025, 05:16 PM*
Gitanjali Angmo, wife of jailed activist Sonam Wangchuk, has firmly rejected allegations of financial irregularities and “Pakistan links” leveled against her husband. She emphasized that Wangchuk’s protests advocating for Ladakh’s rights were peaceful in nature and held the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) responsible for escalating the violence on September 24.
### The Background
Sonam Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA) following protests demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh. The demonstrations turned violent, resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to 90 others.
### Defense and Questions Raised by Angmo
Angmo questioned the rationale behind the CRPF firing on their own people, stating, “Why would the CRPF open fire on their own citizens?” She defended Wangchuk’s role in the protests, adding that he was only aware of plans for a peaceful demonstration and was not involved in any violent activities. According to Angmo, some of Wangchuk’s Ladakhi remarks were taken out of context and mistranslated during a controversial speech, which contributed to misunderstandings about his intent.
### Foreign Visits and Financial Allegations
Addressing concerns about Wangchuk’s foreign trips, Angmo clarified that these visits were focused on climate-related issues rather than being anti-national. She highlighted his participation in a United Nations conference on climate change as evidence of his commitment to global environmental causes.
Regarding accusations of financial discrepancies related to their institutions, Angmo explained that the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) receives foreign funding in full compliance with regulatory norms. She denied any wrongdoing and pointed out that HIAL does not charge students fees, sustaining operations through innovative initiatives such as ice stupas.
### Institutional Challenges and Administrative Delays
Angmo also spoke about the institution’s contributions to innovation and criticized administrative delays affecting land allotment and registration processes. She attributed these hurdles not to any fault of their institutions but to the Union Territory (UT) administration’s lack of clear categorization for such organizations.
Following the September 24 violence, the Union Home Ministry canceled the FCRA license of SECMOL, citing alleged financial irregularities.
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Gitanjali Angmo’s statements provide a strong defense of Sonam Wangchuk’s activism and institutional work, while placing responsibility for the unrest primarily on security forces and administrative challenges faced by Ladakhi institutions.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/he-praised-pm-sonam-wangchuk-s-wife-trashes-pakistan-link-charge/story
