Sonam Wangchuk appeals to President Murmu, alleges defamation by Ladakh administration

Environmental activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk on Saturday appealed to President Droupadi Murmu for immediate intervention in Ladakh. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Wangchuk has alleged that the administration under the Lieutenant Governor is conducting a targeted defamation and character assassination campaign against him and other critics of the Union Territory.

This appeal comes at a time when institutions associated with Wangchuk are facing administrative action. In August 2025, the land leases of the 'Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh' (HIAL) were cancelled. According to the administration, this decision was taken due to failure in completing the lease deed, failure to pay the required premium within the stipulated timeframe, and non-utilization of the land for its designated purpose. Additionally, the administration has directed HIAL to cease further activities related to the operation of its 'Desert Flower School'.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Leh Labour Court reserved its order in a case involving allegations of improper conduct and failure to provide legal maternity benefits to a former employee of HIAL. Sonam Wangchuk and the co-founder and CEO of HIAL, his wife Gitanjali J. Angmo, have blamed bureaucratic hurdles for the delays in the land deal. They alleged that the cancellation of the lease is a politically motivated action linked to the ongoing campaign for statehood and Sixth Schedule protections for Ladakh.

Wangchuk posted a video message on X, releasing excerpts of a 'sting operation' conducted by his lawyers. He claimed that a creative agency associated with two social media pages was working to target him and promote the work of Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena. According to Wangchuk, Saxena commented about him at the India Today Conclave in Mumbai on October 13, and the very next day, on October 14, two Facebook and Instagram pages named 'Ladakh Lens' and 'Ladakh Vision' emerged.

He alleged that both pages were created by the same creative agency, which prompted his lawyers to investigate. The video contains conversations between the lawyers and the alleged owner of the agency, in which the owner speaks of potential ties with the LG's team, offers to facilitate contacts in Ladakh, and mentions that the work is being handled by a Pune-based company. Wangchuk stated that this conversation demonstrates that the LG administration is running an online campaign against critics and using national resources to tarnish the image of Ladakhi leaders.

In his appeal to the President, Wangchuk expressed broad concerns regarding governance in Ladakh. He claimed there are restrictions on democratic rights and freedom of expression under the LG administration. He further stated that FIRs and arrests have been made even for merely posting comments and likes on social media. Questioning administrative policies, he said that land, industry, energy, and tourism policies promote corporate interests at the expense of local communities. He also criticised the liquor policy, stating that the administration has reduced the number of required NOCs for establishing liquor vend points in villages from 16 to 6, thereby facilitating their setup.

Wangchuk stated that institutions associated with him are facing administrative harassment. He initially shared the contents of this sting operation with a senior official of the Union Home Ministry and sought intervention, but contact was lost after a brief conversation. He added that he was hesitant to release this content to avoid affecting the dignity and morality of the country, and therefore has released only selected excerpts, reserving further evidence for now.