Tankha writes to Home Minister seeking revocation of Sonam Wangchuk’s detention

Congress leader Vivek Tankha on Thursday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to review and revoke the detention of climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk under the stringent National Security Act (NSA).

In a letter addressed to the Home Minister, Tankha said Wangchuk’s continued incarceration was unjustified and appealed for his immediate release in the larger public interest.

Wangchuk was detained on September 26 last year , two days after violent protests erupted in Ladakh demanding full statehood and Sixth Schedule status , leaving four people dead . Authorities accused him of inciting the agitation , following which multiple FIRs were registered against him and he was booked under the NSA. He is currently lodged at Jodhpur Central Jail in Rajasthan .

Under the NSA, the Centre or state governments can detain individuals for up to 12 months without formal charges , if their activities are deemed “prejudicial to the defence of India or public order.”

“Nobody in India believes that Sonam Wangchuk deserves incarceration under the NSA. He breathes India, thinks India and lives for India,” Tankha said, adding that Wangchuk has dedicated his life to education reform and climate action in the fragile Himalayan region.

Tankha said Wangchuk is a widely respected and influential figure in Ladakhi society and across the country. “A misunderstanding should not be stretched to a point where it causes deep hurt to the soul of an entire region,” he wrote in his letter.

Sonam Wangchuk , an engineer-turned-innovator, is the founder of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL) and is internationally known for his work on sustainable education models, ice stupas, and climate-resilient technologies. His life and innovations inspired the character played by Aamir Khan in the film 3 Idiots, bringing him national recognition.

Tankha stressed that Ladakh and Kashmir are strategically vital to India’s defence and that the people of Ladakh, including the Ladakhi Scouts, have long stood as partners of the Indian Army in guarding the Himalayan borders with China.

He also pointed to Wangchuk’s deteriorating health condition, noting that the matter has drawn the attention of the Supreme Court . “In view of his present health condition and his immense contributions to the nation, it is in the country’s interest to review his detention and order his release,” the letter said.

Sharing the letter on social media platform X, Tankha appealed to Amit Shah to “end the prolonged detention” of Wangchuk at the earliest, describing him as a symbol of honesty, innovation and selfless service to the nation.