Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Loyalty and Ladakh: On the detention of Sonam Wangchuk

​Loyalty and Ladakh: On the detention of Sonam Wangchuk

Talks while keeping Sonam Wangchuk in jail will lack legitimacy (वैधता)

The detention (हिरासत) of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act and the volley of allegations hurled (To throw an object with great force; to propel violently) at him by the BJP and the government mark a further deterioration (बिगड़ना) of the situation in Ladakh, a sensitive border region. Mr. Wangchuk had been spearheading a movement on behalf of civil society groups demanding Statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which turned violent on September 24, 2025. To pin the blame on him for the violence, as the government and the police appear to be doing, is unwise and flies in the face of facts. This is no way to address the issues that have led to the unrest (अशांति). Mr. Wangchuk has been a supporter of the Centre’s decision, in 2019, to bifurcate the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories (UT), in the hope that Ladakh would be granted full statehood and its indigenous (स्वदेशी) culture and heritage protected by inclusion in the Sixth Schedule subsequently. The BJP did make a public commitment, at least on the question of the Sixth Schedule. Developments following the carving out of Ladakh as a UT followed an opposite pattern, leaving the native population feeling alienated (अलग -थलग). The Centre did start negotiations and arrived at a tentative agreement with the groups on May 27, 2025, which unravelled (To undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads); to investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or mysterious)) for reasons that remain unclear. But the mistrust among the protesters, and with the Centre is apparent. The Centre is now planning to continue with talks even as Mr. Wangchuk is in jail in Jodhpur.

Investigations have been launched against SECMOL, a school he co-founded, though he is not associated with its management anymore. The Centre has revoked its FCRA licence for alleged financial irregularities. He has denied all allegations and welcomed any investigation. He has said the unrest stemmed from six years of unkept promises, especially on job creation and constitutional safeguards. The Opposition, led by the Congress, has termed Mr. Wangchuk’s activism as peaceful and Gandhian. The use of the CBI and ED to overcome a political situation, the violence notwithstanding, betrays a lack of statesmanship. The situation is such that any agreement with other interlocutors (वार्ताकार) while Mr. Wangchuk remains detained will carry little legitimacy in the eyes of the world or Ladakh. It is also extremely counterproductive (प्रतिवाद) to accuse the people or the leaders of the movement in Ladakh of disloyalty to the nation, as many allies of the BJP are doing brazenly (निर्लज्जता से). The Centre should be more considerate (विचारशील) toward the concerns of Ladakh, and such an approach will advance national security and integration much more than any strong-arm measures can achieve in the short term.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Detention (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – हिरासत
English Meaning – The action of keeping someone in official custody; a period of time during which someone is held.

2.Legitimacy (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – वैधता
English Meaning – The state of being lawful, valid, or justifiable; conformity to law or rules.

3.Deterioration (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – बिगड़ना
English Meaning – The process of becoming progressively worse.

4.Unrest (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – अशांति
English Meaning – A state of dissatisfaction, disturbance, and agitation among a group of people, typically involving public protest.

5.Indigenous (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – स्वदेशी
English Meaning – Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.

6.Alienate (Verb)

Hindi Meaning – अलग -थलग
English Meaning – To cause (someone) to feel isolated or estranged; to make someone unfriendly or hostile.

7.Interlocutors (Noun)

Hindi Meaning – वार्ताकार
English Meaning – A person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation; a person who questions.

8.Counterproductive (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – प्रतिवाद
English Meaning – Having the opposite of the desired effect; tending to defeat the purpose.

9.Brazenly (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning – निर्लज्जता से
English Meaning – In a bold and shameless way.

10.Considerate (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning – विचारशील
English Meaning – Careful not to inconvenience or hurt others; thoughtful.

11.Hurl (Verb)

English Meaning – To throw an object with great force; to propel violently.

12.Unravel (Verb)

English Meaning – To undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads); to investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or mysterious).