Calling for a united stand, senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh appealed to the people of India to raise their voice to save Gandhian Sonam Wangchuk. He said that on 2 October, the nation marked Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary and Vijayadashami, when Ravana effigies were burnt.
In a video message on X, senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh stated, “Thursday (2 October) brought a unique coincidence. It was the holy festival of Vijayadashami, when Ravana effigies were set on fire across the country. Through Ravana Dahan, the centuries-old tradition teaches us that society will always oppose injustice and tyranny and express its anger openly. That is why Ravana was set on fire, and on the same day, the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi, the apostle of non-violence, and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who gave the slogan ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’, were also celebrated.”
Drawing a contrast, he asserted, “On one hand is a government walking the path of Ravana, inflicting injustice, oppression, and cruelty. On the other hand are true patriots like Sonam Wangchuk, who followed the non-violent path of Gandhi Ji, made countless inventions for the country, and was honoured with many global awards including the Ramon Magsaysay Award.”
He elaborated, “Among his innovations is the solar tent for soldiers, which provides a comfortable temperature of +15 degrees Celsius inside even when the outside temperature is minus 15 to minus 20 degrees Celsius. He also runs a school where students who fail and struggle academically are given new direction. What is the crime of such a man, who for years has been demanding the implementation of the Sixth Schedule for Ladakh? This demand is neither unjust nor wrong, yet the government ignored his non-violent calls.”
Recalling BJP’s own promise, Sanjay Singh added, “In 2019, the BJP had promised in its manifesto to give Ladakh rights under the Sixth Schedule. But when Sonam Wangchuk began his hunger strike and people’s anger erupted, instead of granting rights, the government tried to crush the protest with tear gas, lathis, and bullets. Even a Kargil warrior who fought Pakistan’s army for 30 days was riddled with bullets by the Modi government’s police. His father too had served in the Army, and his son studies in an Army school.”
Questioning the Centre’s intent, the AAP MP said, “By crushing the rights of people of Ladakh, which borders China, what message does the Modi government want to give? Its actions are turning the people of Ladakh against it, and the only one responsible is this government walking Ravana’s path. Sonam Wangchuk has been jailed under the National Security Act (NSA) on false charges, and even his family has been denied contact with him.”
He further said, “Has walking on the Gandhian and non-violent path now become a crime? The government and its troll army are levelling false and baseless charges against a patriot like Sonam Wangchuk, branding him anti-national. But he had supported the ‘Boycott China’ campaign, and now for participating in the United Nations’ environment programme, he is being labelled as ‘anti-national’. This is the same government that hugs Nawaz Sharif and swings on a jhoola with Xi Jinping, but insists that only it has the right to distribute certificates of patriotism.”
Pointing to a larger pattern, Sanjay Singh said, “Be it the farmers’ movement, the youth protesting for jobs, or the agitation against the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) paper leak, the government uses lathis, tear gas, and cases to crush every legitimate demand. Mehraj Malik as well was jailed under the Public Safety Act (PSA). I appeal to the people of the country that the time to remain silent is over. Whether through a one-day hunger strike, a dharna, a post on social media, or any other means, we must raise our voices for Gandhians like Sonam Wangchuk.”
Making a plea to the judiciary, he added, “I request the Supreme Court to give a verdict against this injustice and release Sonam Wangchuk, who has been jailed under false charges. His family is pleading before the Supreme Court so that people’s faith in democracy and non-violence is preserved. This is the time to raise a voice, in Gandhian and non-violent ways, against a government walking on Ravana’s path.”
