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Sonam Wangchuk Arrested: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken into custody and transferred to a jail in Rajasthan's Jodhpur on Friday, amid escalating tensions in Ladakh. The arrest came two days after protests demanding Ladakh's statehood and inclusion under the Sixth Schedule turned violent, resulting in four deaths and nearly 90 injuries. Officials said the detention was carried out at 2:30 pm by a police team led by Ladakh Police chief S. D. Singh Jamwal.

Amid ongoing tensions in Ladakh, opposition parties on Friday criticized the central government for arresting climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. They claimed the action "clearly reveals a politically motivated crackdown" and called it a "complete failure" in upholding law and order in the Union Territory. Police arrested climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Friday, two days after protests demanding Ladakh's statehood and Sixth Schedule status left four people dead and 90 injured in the Union Territory.

Although no formal statement has been released regarding the charges against him, sources within the Ladakh administration suggest that the National Security Act (NSA), a stringent law, has been applied in his case.

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Here's What Opposition Said

- Congress: Condemning Wangchuk's arrest, the Congress said it was done to divert attention and responsibility from the BJP's "abysmal failure" to maintain law and order and ensure security of life and property in Ladakh.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh, said, "The Indian National Congress condemns the arrest of noted environmentalist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk under the National Security Act."

"The crux of the issue is that the BJP has deceived the people of Ladakh for years. It promised the region Sixth Schedule status in the 2020 Leh Hill Council elections and has gone back on that promise with a vengeance," Ramesh said.

The BJP claimed that it gave Ladakh autonomy from the larger Jammu and Kashmir but it has really ended all semblance of democracy in the UT, the Congress leader alleged.

"The Modi government cannot brush these issues away or suppress them by arresting Wangchuk. It needs to engage with the people of Ladakh in sincerity and with alacrity," Ramesh said.

ALSO READ: Sonam Wangchuk Arrested Under NSA, Taken Out Of Ladakh; JK CM Accuses Centre Of 'Backtracking On Promises'

- TMC: Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader Sagarika Ghose alleged that the Narendra Modi government treats any dissent as "anti-national" and arrests the dissenters under draconian laws.

"Home Ministry at it again. Narendra Modi regime now arrests Magsaysay Award winner Sonam Wangchuk. Whether in sensitive places like Kashmir or Manipur or Ladakh, the Modi government has no policy, no reach out, no reconciliation, no trust building," Ghose said in a post on X.

"All that the incompetent Modi regime can do is treat any dissent as 'anti-national' and arrest under draconian laws. Shameful," she further said.

- NC: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Wangchuk's arrest was unfortunate and accused the BJP-led NDA government of backtracking on its promises.

"This is unfortunate. The way the Central government was after him since yesterday, it seemed they would do something like this," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a ceremony in Srinagar.

"Promises were made with the people there... I don't understand what compulsions does the central government have to backtrack after making promises," he said.

- PDP: PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said Wangchuk's arrest is "deeply disturbing", terming the climate activist as a lifelong advocate of peace.

"Sonam Wangchuk's arrest is deeply disturbing. A lifelong advocate of peace, sustainability and truth is being punished merely for demanding that promises be kept," Mehbooba said in a post on X.

The former chief minister said the situation in Leh, following Wednesday's violence, was a grim echo of what Kashmir has endured.

- AAP: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticised the BJP-led central government over Wangchuk's arrest, calling it an attack on democracy and people's rights.

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said that the country was passing through a difficult phase.

"Ravana's end also came. Kansa's end also came. Hitler's and Mussolini's end also came.

"And today, people hate all those individuals. Today in our country, dictatorship is at its peak. The end of those who practice dictatorship and arrogance is very bad," Kejriwal wrote in Hindi in a post on X.

Earlier, in another post on X, he described Wangchuk as a man committed to education and innovation, and said it was painful to see him facing action.

Delhi Leader of Opposition Atishi also reacted, saying Wangchuk had been voicing concerns related to Ladakh's land, environment, identity and voting rights.

"Putting such a person in jail is an attack on democracy. The voice of the people cannot be suppressed," she posted on X.

CPI(M): Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas and CPI(ML) Liberation general secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya were among the Left party leaders who condemned the arrest.

Brittas, in a post on X, said the repressive action will only aggravate the situation.

"Strongly condemn the arrest of Sonam Wangchuk and the brutality unleashed on Ladakh's people, where four lives were tragically lost and many were injured. Such repressive actions will only aggravate the situation, further fueling unrest. Demand an immediate end to this violence, sincere talks with Ladakh's leaders, and justice with compensation for the grieving families," Brittas said.

Bhattacharya, also in a post on X, said, "Strongly condemn the persecution and arrest of renowned climate activist, innovator and popular leader of Ladakh Sonam Wangchuk. Free Sonam Wangchuk and fulfill the democratic aspirations of the people of Ladakh."

( PTI Inputs )