Centre cancels Sonam Wangchuk-led NGO's FCRA licence
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New Delhi: The Union government cancelled the FCRA licence of activist Sonam Wangchuk-led Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh. The move was made after accusing him of alleged repeated violations of the law governing foreign funding for non-governmental organisations.
The Centre cancelled the same 24 hours after violent protests in Ladakh demanding statehood, which were led by Wangchuk.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a preliminary investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by the climate activist Wangchuk and the institution he created, an official said Thursday.
According to the official, the initial investigation began around two months ago in response to a complaint from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and is currently ongoing.
Meanwhile, Wangchuk told PTI that a CBI team came with “an order” about 10 days ago, saying that they were acting on a complaint from the MHA regarding alleged FCRA violations in the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL).
On Wednesday, shortly after four people were killed in violence and police firing at a statehood protest in Leh, the MHA claimed Wangchuk's "provocative statements" incited the "mob.”
It said “certain politically motivated individuals were not happy with the progress” in the ongoing talks between the representatives of the government and Ladakh groups, and “have been trying to sabotage the dialogue process”.
Protests in Ladakh demanding statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule turned violent when demonstrators torched a BJP office and clashed with police. The agitation was called by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) after two members of a group on a 35-day hunger strike, which began on September 10, had to be hospitalised as their health worsened, the Indian Express reported.