On Gandhi Jayanti, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj, visited Rajghat to pray for the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. The party openly condemned Wangchuk’s arrest under the National Security Act (NSA).
During the visit, Delhi AAP convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and prayed for Wangchuk’s release. AAP MLAs Sanjeev Jha, Delhi Women’s Wing president Sarika Singh, and Delhi AAP general secretary Adil Khan, along with several leaders and workers, also joined the event.
Earlier, Bharadwaj lashed out at Ladakh Director General of Police (DGP) Jamwal, questioning the evidence behind Wangchuk’s arrest under the NSA. AAP termed the arrest an assault on democracy and people’s rights, holding protests against the move.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal also slammed the BJP-led central government. He wrote on X in Hindi: “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 always very bad.”
Wangchuk was arrested on Friday under the NSA and transferred to Rajasthan’s Jodhpur Central Jail, according to sources. The government accused him of making “provocative statements” and alleged that “politically motivated” groups unhappy with talks between officials and Ladakhi representatives incited protests demanding statehood for the Union Territory.
The Ministry of Home Affairs claimed Wangchuk’s references to the Arab Spring and Nepal’s Gen Z protests triggered mob violence in Leh, which led to the torching of the local BJP office and several government vehicles.
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