NEW DELHI: Defending the detention of Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), the Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that the popular climate activist has attempted to provoke the younger generation into pushing Ladakh towards a situation similar to Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
"The climate activist Sonam Wangchuk wanted the Union Territory to face an agitation and violence similar to what transpired in Nepal and Bangladesh," Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, senior law officer appearing for the Centre, submitted before a Bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and PB Varale.
Opposing the plea of Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of the jailed activist, Mehta added that Wangchuk wanted Ladakh to “become Nepal or Bangladesh”. He said, "We all know what happened in Bangladesh. He is targeting the impressionable youth. The moment you say ‘ours’ and ‘theirs’ in this country, you are doing something against the country."
Elaborating further, Mehta contended that Wangchuk had made alleged inflammatory speeches, using Mahatma Gandhi’s name only as a facade at the beginning and end of his talks.
"His speech at the beginning and end is always Gandhiji. But in the middle, whatever you say, you use Gandhiji as a cover. This is usually done when inflammatory speeches are made," Mehta said, adding that Wangchuk was misleading the younger generation to emulate what happened in Nepal.
The Centre, while defending the District Magistrate’s order as correct, said the decision had been passed after examining various factors.
The arguments by the SG on Monday were inconclusive and are likely to continue on Tuesday post-lunch.
Wangchuk was detained under the NSA at Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan following protests in Leh in September 2025 over demands for statehood and Sixth Schedule status for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
In one of the hearings, Wangchuk denied allegations that he had made statements to overthrow the government like the Arab Spring, asserting that he has a democratic right to criticise and protest against the government. He told the top court that such sentiments do not threaten the security of the state to warrant his detention.
These submissions were made by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, arguing for Wangchuk’s wife, Angmo. The senior lawyer further added that there is no case of violence against him. "Whatever he has done is purely in a peaceful manner. No violence, only through peaceful means," he told the SC.
The apex court was hearing the plea filed by Wangchuk’s wife against his preventive detention.