Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Release Wangchuk: On Sonam Wangchuk and the National Security Act

Release Wangchuk: On Sonam Wangchuk and the National Security Act

Detention of peaceful activists does not serve national interest

The basis of good governance and democracy is that it provides enough leeway (The amount of freedom to move or act that is available; an acceptable amount of variation) and wherewithal (The money or means needed for a particular purpose) to address issues related to national security. The smart way to address a problem that started as a legitimate demand for greater autonomy (स्वायत्तता) in governance is not by misusing laws that allow for preventive detention (हिरासत) against peaceful dissenters (असहमति, असंतुष्ट) but by finding a route to defuse it. That does not mean that those who indulged in violence and arson in Ladakh during the protests for Statehood and Sixth Schedule status should be spared the long arm of the law. Yet, the Centre’s detention of climate activist and social reformer Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act (NSA), in response to the protests, is wrong. Mr. Wangchuk has been a consistent and peaceful advocate for the legitimate (वैध, कानूनी) democratic aspirations of Ladakh, which have found resonance (प्रतिध्वनि, गूंज) across Leh and Kargil districts, as well as religious, ethnic and political identities. His recourse to non-violent dissent, with sustained agitations (आंदोलन, व्याकुलता) for a legislature to address Ladakh’s environmental and livelihood concerns, is in keeping with the historical ethos of Indian politics established during and after the freedom movement. Invoking a law that is intended to counter a threat to the security of the Indian state against a peaceful dissenter reveals a problematic intolerance (असहिष्णुता) for democratic expression.

In recent judgments, the Supreme Court of India has repeatedly clarified that a clear distinction must be made between a “law and order” issue and a threat to “public order”. The NSA, which is meant to address “public order”, pertains to acts that disturb “the even tempo of the life of the community”. There is no evidence to suggest that Mr. Wangchuk’s activism reaches this benchmark. The Centre appears to have failed to apply its mind and reach a “requisite (अपेक्षित, आवश्यक) subjective satisfaction”, as demanded by the Court, to show that his actions posed any real threat to “public order”. The Centre’s response has clearly sought to conflate dissent with acts akin to sedition. Mr. Wangchuk’s case is not an isolated one, as in the past, similar Acts were used to stifle dissent and bypass due process, as was the case with the detention of Kashmiri politicians following the abrogation of the special status of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir. Ladakh’s aspiration for self-governance is genuine and requires the Centre’s nuanced (अति सूक्ष्म अंतर) and empathetic response, more so as it is a sensitive border region. The Centre must revoke Mr. Wangchuk’s detention immediately and re-engage in a meaningful dialogue with the people of Ladakh. Not doing so will only precipitate another crisis.

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.Autonomy (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्वायत्तता
English Meaning - The right or condition of self-government; independence.

3.Dissenter (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - असहमति, असंतुष्ट
English Meaning - A person who dissents; one who disagrees with an established opinion or policy.

4.Legitimate (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - वैध, कानूनी
English Meaning - Conforming to the law or to rules; lawful; able to be defended with logic or justification; genuine.

5.Resonance (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रतिध्वनि, गूंज
English Meaning - The quality in a sound of being deep, full, and reverberating; the power to evoke lasting images, memories, or emotions.

6.Agitation (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - आंदोलन, व्याकुलता
English Meaning - A state of anxiety or nervous excitement; the action of arousing public concern about an issue.

7.Intolerance (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - असहिष्णुता
English Meaning - Unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behaviour that differ from one's own; inability to ingest certain foods or medicines.

8.Requisite (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अपेक्षित, आवश्यक
English Meaning - Made necessary by particular circumstances or regulations; essential.

9.Congregate (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - इकट्ठा होना
English Meaning - To gather into a crowd or mass.

10.Nuance (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - अति सूक्ष्म अंतर
English Meaning - A subtle difference in or shade of meaning, expression, or sound.

11.Leeway (Noun)

English Meaning - The amount of freedom to move or act that is available; an acceptable amount of variation.

12.Wherewithal (Noun)

English Meaning - The money or means needed for a particular purpose.