**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 claims of “Pakistan links” leveled against her husband. She emphasized that Wangchuk’s protests advocating for Ladakh’s rights were peaceful in nature, and placed the blame for the violence that erupted on September 24 squarely on the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The protests, which demanded Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh, turned violent resulting in four deaths and around 90 injuries. Following these events, Wangchuk was detained under the National Security Act (NSA).
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### Defense Stance: Questioning CRPF’s Actions
Angmo questioned the CRPF’s decision to open fire on protesters, asking, “Why would security forces fire on their own people?” She defended her husband’s role in the protests, stating that he was only aware of plans for peaceful demonstrations and had no knowledge of any violent intentions.
She also claimed that some of Wangchuk’s Ladakhi statements during his speech were taken out of context and mistranslated, which contributed to the allegations of provocation.
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### Foreign Visits: Climate-Focused, Not Anti-National
Addressing concerns about Wangchuk’s foreign travels, Angmo explained that his visits were focused on climate issues. She highlighted his participation at a United Nations conference on climate change as evidence that his intentions were legitimate and nationalistic, not anti-national.
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### Financial Allegations: Clearing the Air
Regarding accusations of financial discrepancies involving their institutions, Angmo provided clarity about the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL). She explained that HIAL receives foreign funding in full compliance with regulations and denied any wrongdoing.
She further noted that HIAL does not charge tuition fees from students, instead funding its operations through innovative projects such as ice stupas — a sustainable water conservation initiative.
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### Institutional Challenges and Administrative Delays
Angmo also spoke about the challenges faced by HIAL, particularly the administrative delays concerning land allotment and registration. She stated that these setbacks were not due to any fault of the institution but were caused by a lack of appropriate categories by the Union Territory (UT) administration for institutions like theirs.
Following the violence on September 24, the Union Home Ministry canceled SECMOL’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) license, citing alleged financial discrepancies.
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Gitanjali Angmo’s defense paints a picture of Sonam Wangchuk as a peaceful activist and highlights issues with how protests were managed and interpreted. The ongoing controversy underscores the complex political and administrative challenges surrounding Ladakh’s demand for greater autonomy.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/he-praised-pm-sonam-wangchuk-s-wife-trashes-pakistan-link-charge/story
