Leh statehood violence: MHA cancels FCRA registration of Sonam Wanchuk’s SECMOL

Leh: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has cancelled the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) registration of the Students Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), headed by noted innovator and Ramon Magsaysay awardee Sonam Wangchuk.

This comes a day after the statehood protests turned violent in Leh. Four people were killed and nearly 100 others were injured in the violence on Wednesday.

Sonam Wangchuk, who inspired Aamir Khan's Rancho character in 3 idiots, has found himself at the centre of the storm after the Ministry of Home Affairs blamed him for inciting the mob. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing his institute for alleged violations of foreign funding rules.

Centre Accuses Wangchuk of Incitement

Ministry of Home Affairs said, “It is clear that the mob was incited by Sonam Wangchuk through his provocative statements. Incidentally, amidst these violent developments, he broke his fast and left for his village in an ambulance without making serious efforts to control the situation.”

The ministry’s remarks come a day after the violence, which saw clashes between police and protesters, as well as arson in parts of Leh.

Wangchuk Denies Role, Warns Against Scapegoating

Responding to the allegations, Wangchuk told a news agency that he is prepared to face arrest under the Public Safety Act.

“I see they are building up a case to bring me under the Public Safety Act and throw me in jail for two years. I am ready for that, but Sonam Wangchuk in jail may cause them more problems than free Sonam Wangchuk.”

Rejecting the government’s charge, he said:

“To say it (the violence) was instigated by me, or sometimes by Congress, is to find a scapegoat, rather than addressing the core of the problem, and this will lead us nowhere. They may be clever in making somebody else a scapegoat, but they are not wise. At this time, we all need wisdom rather than ‘cleverness’ because youths are already frustrated.”

Fast Called Off Amid Violence

On September 10, Wangchuk began another 35-day hunger strike in support of the demand for Ladakh’s statehood. He ended the fast on Thursday after the protest spiraled into violence.

“On the 15th day of our strike, I am pained to say that several incidents of violence, arson, and vandalism took place in Leh today. Two people on strike had to be hospitalised yesterday. This sparked outrage. A bandh was announced today, and thousands of youngsters hit the streets,” he said in a video message on X.

Acknowledging the escalation, he added:

“My message of peaceful path failed.”

“Gen-Z Revolution” and Joblessness

Wangchuk described the outburst by young people as a “Gen-Z revolution.” He said, “They have been jobless for five years. This is a recipe for social unrest. There is no democratic platform here.”

He also appealed directly to the youth:

“I appeal to the youngsters to shun the path of violence. This nullifies my five-year struggle. We have been holding strikes, marches, and violence is not our path.”

Probe into HIAL and Land Allotment Cancellation

The CBI is currently looking into alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) by the Himalayan Institute of Alternative Learning (HIAL), which Wangchuk co-founded. According to reports, the inquiry has been ongoing for two months, though no case has yet been registered.

The Ladakh administration recently cancelled the land allotted to HIAL, claiming it was not being used for its stated purpose. Wangchuk countered this, saying:

“The land was allotted in 2018, and now the administration says it is not serving its purpose. There is a design behind the cancellation of the lease.”

Background

Wangchuk rose to prominence after the release of the 2009 film 3 Idiots, with his work as an education reformer in Ladakh inspiring Aamir Khan’s character Phunsukh Wangdu. In 2018, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his “systematic, collaborative and community-driven reform of learning systems” in a remote Himalayan region.