Ladakh Protests: FCRA Licence Cancelled, Will Activist Sonam Wangchuk Be Arrested Next?

A crucial meeting will be held at the Union Home Ministry today to discuss the violence that broke out in Ladakh. Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta is expected to attend the meeting in New Delhi along

with top officials from the security forces, including the Indian Army and CRPF, and intelligence officials. The Centre has claimed that the violent protests in Leh were a "conspiracy" involving "foreign powers" and outsiders.The development comes a day after four persons were killed in widespread clashes between protesters supporting the movement for statehood to Ladakh and security personnel amid a shutdown in Leh. The government blamed Wangchuk for the mob violence.Times Now has also learnt that over 20 Nepali citizens were present at the site of violence in Leh. The police suspect that the violence in Ladakh was part of a deliberate strategy to vitiate the atmosphere in the region. Two Nepali nationals among the group of protesters also reportedly attacked the police officials and about 60 of them have now been arrested by the police officials.Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is under the radar of the investigative agencies after several alleged discrepancies were detected in the accounts of his organisation. The Centre also believes that his commentary and provocative statements may have incited the violence in the union territory. The Union Home Ministry on Thursday cancelled the FCRA licence of Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL) founded by Wangchuk with "immediate effect". The ministry said that certain transactions like the fund transfer from Sweden to the accounts of the organisation was against "national interest".When contacted by Times Now over phone, Wangchuk maintained that his protests were non-violent and that he had no intention whatsoever to incite any crowds or resort to such violence. Asked about his reference to Arab Spring protest and Gen Z protest in Nepal, he denied making the remarks in the current protest."If at all I had referred to Arab Spring, that was months and months ago. Three months ago, I said, I will take all the pain, not let others take the pain. Then I will die of either hunger or, if needed, even immolate myself. But I will be there as one life to give," Wangchuk, who won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2018, said.Sonam Wangchuk on Possibility of ArrestSonam Wangchuk said that he made appeals for calm in both Ladakhi and Hindi when gunshots were heard. He refuted the Centre's allegations that he left the protest venue without controlling the mob.On the possibility of being arrested, the activist said he is "happy to be arrested anytime if it is for this cause.""I'm preparing for that [arrest]. I am looking forward to it. I don't want to be in any confusion... But I want to tell you Sonam Wangchuk in jail will be equally, if not more problematic as Sonam Wangchuk outside participating in dialogues and discussions... because it will awaken people more about how this country is being run," said Wangchuk, according to NDTV.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3PwK0yfX90

Terming the CBI probe "witch hunting", Wangchuk said there was an attempt to put all the blame on him. "A day later (after Leh protests), the Home Ministry of India issued a press release naming Sonam Wangchuk in it and blaming him... I had received a notice about a CBI inquiry stating that your organisation received foreign funding even when it did not have FCRA. We did not get FCRA because we don't want funds from abroad. United Nations team wanted to take our Passive Solar Heated Building to Afghanistan, and for this, they gave us a fee. We also got fees with tax from Switzerland and Italy organisations for supplying knowledge to them about our artificial glaciers...We are getting I-T summons. In the series of witch hunting, yesterday's events were the last and all blame was put on Sonam Wangchuk," he told ANI.Besides SECMOL, Wangchuk also founded Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL) which is facing CBI inquiry for alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA, norms.SECMOL was granted the licence to accept foreign contribution for undertaking cultural and educational programme, the order said.The home ministry had earlier issued a show cause notice to SECMOL seeking explanation on various irregularities observed in the finances of the organisation.It was alleged that during financial year 2021-22, Wangchuk deposited Rs 3.5 lakh into the FCRA account of the association in violation of section 17 of the Act.In a statement, SECMOL said the sale proceeds of the old bus procured on July 14, 2015 out of FCRA funds. It said the sale proceeds for any asset which was procured from FCRA's funds need to be deposited only in FCRA's account as per the guidelines.The ministry said that the amount has been received in cash in violation of section 17 of the Act which is not properly disclosed by the organisation in its reply."Further, an amount of Rs 3.35 lakh has been intimated by the association...as FC donation from Sonam Wangchuk. However. this transaction is not reflected in FCRA account in violation of section 18 of the Act," it said.The ministry also red flagged another transfer of Rs 54,600 local funds in FCRA accounts of the organisation which the latter claimed a mistake.A foreign contribution from Sweden of around Rs 4.93 lakh for creating awareness among youth on issues such as migration, climate change, global warming, food security and sovereignty and organic farming through different workshops and trainings is also under the scanner of the ministry.Rejecting the arguments of SECMOL that the funds were utilized strictly in line with the organisation's objectives for educational purposes only, the ministry has said the foreign contribution cannot be accepted for study on sovereignty of the nation as it is against "national interests".