Wangchuk being treated as 'criminal' without any reason, alleges wife Gitanjali Angmo
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Leh (PTI): "He was treated like a criminal without any reason," was an angry outburst from Gitanjali Angmo, the wife of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was arrested from his village Ulyaktopo two days after violent protests in Leh over demands for statehood and constitutional safeguards, leaving four people dead and 59 others injured.
Wangchuk was arrested on Friday by a police party led by Ladakh DGP S D Singh Jamwal. The Home Ministry blamed Wangchuk for making "provocative statements" that led to Wednesday's violence, a charge the activist has consistently denied.
Angmo, who is also the co-founder of HIAL (Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh), fiercely condemned her husband's detention and accused the government of spreading "false narratives" to tarnish his image.
She alleged that their house was "ransacked by the police" and alleged that Wangchuk was being unjustly portrayed as "anti-national".
"It is the worst form of democracy... without any trial, without any reason, they have just taken him like a criminal," Angmo told PTI.
She escalated her criticism beyond the arrest, accusing the government of deliberately damaging her husband's reputation.
"The government should not stoop to this level to tarnish somebody's image who has been peacefully protesting for the past five years, who has contributed to national glory more than anybody else, be it through Rolex Awards or, you know, the work that he has been doing in agriculture and environment, to UNDP and everywhere," she said.
"If this is how intellectuals and innovators are treated, then God save this country from becoming anything but a Vishwaguru," she said.
Angmo also slammed the ruling BJP at the Centre, saying "please tell them not to call themselves Hindu... because the basis of Hinduism is all truth".
Identifying herself as a practising Hindu, Wangchuk's wife questioned the BJP's principles, saying, "They are not Hindus in any way. The BJP is not Hindu because its foundation is falsehood."
"I am somebody who teaches the Vedas, Vedanta and the Bhagavad Gita in the light of Sri Aurobindo. I am a teacher and student of the Vedas and Vedanta and this is not the India Sri Aurobindo dreamt about and this is not the Hinduism that Vedas and Vedanta talk about," she said.
Angmo reiterated her protest and challenged anyone from the Centre to a live, prime-time television debate on the allegations levelled against her husband, including issues related to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and CBI inquiries.
"I challenge them to come on Prime Time TV to have a one-on-one debate with me about all the allegations," she said.
"Let them not spread false narratives as they are doing. Let them not use their power and use the entire state and national machinery to just go after one man."
She further criticised the ruling BJP, saying, "Their foundation is falsehood... This is not the India which Sri Aurobindo dreamt about."
The specific charges pressed against him remain unclear.
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Former minister C M Ibrahim announces to launch new regional party for Karnataka
Kalaburagi: Two years after being expelled from the Janata Dal (Secular), former minister C.M. Ibrahim has announced that he will launch a new regional political party in Karnataka on January 24, reported Deccan Herald.
Speaking at a meeting organised by the Nava Karnataka Nirmana Andolana in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Ibrahim confirmed the birth of the new party.
The 77-year-old politician stated he would soon be meeting with other like-minded individuals to choose a symbol for the party.
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Ibrahim emphasised that the organisation would be guided by the principles of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna and the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
A veteran politician, Ibrahim served as Union Civil Aviation Minister during the tenure of H.D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister and later headed the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal (Secular). He was expelled from the JD(S) in 2023 on charges of anti-party activities.
His exit from the party followed sharp differences over the JD(S) decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the then state president of the JD(S), Ibrahim had publicly criticised the alliance, claiming it was finalised without his knowledge. He had also reportedly convened meetings of his supporters and expressed support for the INDIA bloc.
