Sonam Wangchuk’s speech meant to quell violence, not spread it, wife tells SC

New Delhi: Gitanjali J Angmo, wife of jailed climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, told the Supreme Court on Thursday that her husband’s speech was intended to stop violence rather than propagate it, accusing authorities of manipulating facts to portray him as a criminal. Wangchuk was detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, 2025, two days after protests demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh turned violent, leaving four dead and 90 injured.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Angmo, played a video of Wangchuk’s speech in court, arguing that the activist was appealing for peace while breaking his hunger strike. Comparing the situation to Mahatma Gandhi calling off the Non-Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura incident, Sibal quoted Wangchuk as saying, "I said I cannot accept this violence, and we should stop this violence, and I am appealing to you to stop this violence." He told the bench comprising Justices Aravind Kumar and Prasanna B Varale that the tenor of the speech was not threatening to state security but was an attempt to quell unrest.

Sibal further argued that Wangchuk’s detention was legally flawed because he was not provided with the "complete grounds" for his arrest, violating Article 22 of the Constitution. He alleged that while the detention order relied on four videos dated September 10, 11, and 24, these were not furnished to Wangchuk when other documents were supplied on September 29, 2025. Sibal contended that the vital video showing Wangchuk’s appeal for peace was withheld from the detaining authority to ensure the order was passed without full context, and that the grounds of detention were only supplied after a "flagrant delay" of 28 days.

The Leh District Magistrate had earlier filed an affidavit denying illegal detention or improper treatment, maintaining that Wangchuk engaged in activities prejudicial to state security and public order. The administration asserted that all necessary grounds and materials had been communicated to the detainee. The hearing remained inconclusive and is scheduled to continue on January 12.

(Inputs from PTI)