Sonam Wangchuk detained while marching to Delhi; Rahul Gandhi calls it ‘undemocratic’

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday criticised the government for detaining Ladakh's environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk and said such action is "undemocratic and unacceptable".

Rahul Gandhi termed the detention of Wangchuk as unacceptable and said that this "Chakravyuh and arrogance of Modi" too will be broken.

Gandhi said in a post on X, "The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable."

He further said, "Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future? Modi ji, like with the farmers, this ‘Chakravyuh’ will be broken, and so will your arrogance. You will have to listen to Ladakh’s voice."

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The detention of Sonam Wangchuk ji and hundreds of Ladakhis peacefully marching for environmental and constitutional rights is unacceptable.

Why are elderly citizens being detained at Delhi’s border for standing up for Ladakh’s future?

Modi ji, like with the farmers, this…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 30, 2024 >

On social media handle X, Kharge said, "The arrogance of the Modi government consumed in power has detained a group of citizens from Ladakh peacefully marching to Delhi. This is nothing but a cowardly action and is deeply undemocratic in nature."

"In Ladakh, there is a growing wave of public support, with widespread calls for safeguarding tribal communities under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Instead, the Modi Govt wants to exploit the ecologically sensitive Himalayan glaciers of Ladakh to benefit its crony friends," Kharge said.

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The arrogance of the Modi Govt consumed in power has detained a group of citizens from Ladakh peacefully marching to Delhi. This is nothing but a cowardly action, and is deeply undemocratic in nature.

In Ladakh, there is a growing wave of public support, with widespread calls…

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) October 1, 2024 >

"This incident tells us that the fight against Modi Govt’s brazen despotism is far from over!" Kharge added.

Party general secretary KC Venugopal too slammed the government and said that the Centre was "out to kill his ideals once again".

"The arrest of Sonam Wangchuk ji shows the government is scared of anyone who speaks up for their rights. Ladakh has been silenced, stripped of its democratic rights, and on the verge of being handed over to large corporations," Venugopal said.

The Lok Sabha MP said, "This protest is months old, and the BJP is silly to think such petty acts of cowardice are going to deter those who have embarked on a Gandhian mission. The Modi regime is hell bent on repeating the sins that have caused their downfall."